After your Common App Personal Statement is done, most selective schools require additional essays — called supplemental essays — to learn more about you and your fit for their community. These aren’t “throwaway” assignments. They often carry significant weight in admissions decisions, especially at competitive schools.
Supplemental essays are school-specific writing prompts that go beyond the Common App. They can range from:
Short 150–250 word responses
Longer 400–650 word essays
Creative prompts (“What song represents you?”)
Practical prompts (“Why do you want to attend our school?”)
The number and type of essays vary by school.
Some colleges may require just one short answer.
Others may ask for three or more essays covering topics like:
Why This School
Community or Belonging
Intellectual Curiosity
Significant Challenges
While the Common App essay gives admissions officers a big-picture sense of who you are, supplemental essays zoom in on how you will contribute to that specific school’s community. They allow you to:
Highlight aspects of your background, culture, and experiences not covered in your main essay
Show that you’ve researched the school’s programs, values, and traditions
Demonstrate fit — why this school is right for you, and why you are right for them
We treat supplemental essays as strategic storytelling. Once you have a few polished “core” stories, we adapt them to match different prompts, saving time without sacrificing quality.
Full Builds: We brainstorm, draft, and polish from scratch for unique prompts.
Adaptations: We strategically repurpose your strongest material for similar prompts, adjusting for each school’s personality and priorities.
This process ensures every word is working to show fit, enthusiasm, and authenticity.
Supplemental essay support is flexible — you can book à la carte or in bundles:
Full Build (first school / unique prompt) – $250
Adaptation – $150
Bundle Options:
3 Schools – $500
5 Schools – $800
8 Schools – $1,250