supplemental application required meaning

What is a supplemental application for college?

The common application, the universal application, and supplemental applications for college.

It’s mid-August before your senior year and you’re feeling pretty good about your college applications. After all, your Common Application Personal Statement or Universal Application main essay is complete, your activities filled out and your letters of recommendation have been requested. You might just be able to convince yourself you’re almost done! Until your best friend says , “That’s great, but have you started working on your supplemental applications?”

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Supplemental Application Procedures

In addition to the  UC Application for Admission and Scholarships , which must be submitted by November 30, the professional school majors listed below require supplemental materials that you must submit directly to the department. 

Submit these materials only if you have selected one of these programs as your primary major at UCLA. Applicants who select these programs as their alternate majors will be reviewed for their primary major only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on your major, you will have to submit a portfolio or perform an audition to complete the supplemental application process.

• College Application

Your Definitive Guide to Supplemental College Application Essays

Including supplemental essay examples to inspire your own.

Supplemental college application essays come in a vast range of topics and sizes and are often the biggest challenge for students after getting through the grueling initial application stages. These essays are crucial in the admissions process, as they provide a more personal and detailed context of your candidacy. They allow you to speak about more specific topics than the more general and broadly-structured personal statement or Common App essay that you submit in your primary application.

In this blog, our college essay advisors go over the general categories and purposes for the various supplemental essays you may have to navigate, and offer examples of short, medium, and lengthy supplemental essays.

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Article Contents 25 min read

Why are supplemental college application essays so important.

Supplemental essay prompts are usually provided directly by colleges as part of the secondary application, after you’ve submitted your primary application. Some colleges ask for multiple essays of varying lengths while others may ask for just one long-form supplemental essay. The specific prompts and word count requirements vary widely between schools. Every admissions committee creates their own supplemental requirements, including secondary essay prompts, to help them form a holistic picture of the applicant and judge how well-suited they would be for their school.

At the outset, it’s vital to understand that the term “supplemental” does not mean optional or second in importance. A supplement fills or makes up for an absence or imbalance, and that’s precisely the role these essays play in your application. Think of it a bit like adding colored paint to a black and white drawing. Your high school resume , transcripts, and test scores have given admissions committees an initial sense of what your candidacy. Supplemental essays, when correctly attuned to the personal statement, create a more nuanced portrait of your as an applicant.

Supplemental essays present a unique challenge as they have to be written in a short period of time, typically in 2 weeks or a month. Colleges send out secondary applications only after receiving your primary application and they provide strict submission deadlines. Additionally, unlike your personal statement, it’s not always possible to write supplemental college essays in advance since colleges frequently change their exact prompts from one year to the next and secondary essays need to always be tailored in response to specific prompts. However, that doesn’t mean you have to wait till you actually receive your specific prompts to start work on the essays.

A good strategy to tackle advance work on supplemental college essays is to spend 2 to 3 weeks writing rough drafts of the most common supplemental college essay types. Depending on the colleges you’re applying to, you can focus on specific prompts they’ve frequently asked in previous years. You can also check out college essay examples to get a better idea of what kind of content you need to come up with.

As you’re working on your primary application in the summer before senior year of high school or in September/October of your senior year, you can spend a few minutes each day brainstorming ideas for the previous year’s secondary essay prompts from colleges you’re applying to and creating a few rough drafts. For instance, most colleges ask for the “why us” essay, so you should definitely brainstorm your answer to that question in advance for all the colleges you’re applying to.

The advantage of following this strategy is that you will probably be wrapping up your primary application, including your personal statement or Common App essay, just as you begin work on your secondaries. Writing an effective personal statement requires a lot of brainstorming, journaling, introspection, free writing, rough drafts, and revisions. In the process, you’re sure to have spent plenty of time identifying key experiences, events, incidents, and people in your life, and also thinking about your own strengths, weaknesses, motivations, ambitions, and failures. Not all of this would have made it into your personal statement, and you can re-use a lot of this rough material as inspiration for your supplemental essay content. Moreover, you would have already honed your structuring and writing skills working on your personal statement, and the basic written communication skills required for the secondary essays are the same.

The goal of this advanced writing process is to have ideas and inspiration ready for when you actually receive your specific essay prompts. All your pre-writing and brainstorming will give you plenty of base material to work with, and rather than starting from scratch, you can spend the critical time before your supplemental deadline tailoring your essays to respond to the specific prompts and word counts. Remember, this is going to be a very busy period for you: while different colleges have different supplemental application dates and timelines, they generally occur within a similar period of time, typically between October and November for early decision programs and December and January for regular applications. So, you’re bound to have some overlap between the secondary essay deadlines for different colleges you’re applying to. You might end up having to work on secondary essays for multiple colleges within the same 1 month period. That’s why it’s all the more important that you complete your brainstorming in advance and create a few rough drafts of essays in response to the most commonly expected prompts.

Now, let’s discuss some general trends and categories frequently used for supplemental college application essays.

How to Tackle Different Supplemental Essays Prompts

While these categories cover the general focus of most supplemental essays, it’s important to note that schools change their secondary and supplemental essay prompts regularly, sometimes every year, and as a result, topics and categories evolve over time. Nonetheless, these are the most common categories both historically and currently.

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind while working on any essay type:

The School-Specific Supplemental Essay

What is it?

As we mentioned previously, this is one of the most frequently used supplemental college prompts. These are typically between 250-350 words in length, although this varies widely from school to school. This is actually one of the easiest types of secondary college prompts to answer. Students don’t usually choose their undergraduate institutions randomly, rather, they make their choice after careful deliberation and research. To answer the school-specific essays, use that research! Schools want to know you’re engaged with their overall mission and clearly understand their place in the world, as well as what you specifically hope to get out of the campus experience aside from a Bachelor’s degree.

Sample essay prompts

Dartmouth : While arguing a Dartmouth-related case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1818, Daniel Webster, Class of 1801, delivered this memorable line: \"It is, sir,\u2026a small college, and yet there are those who love it!\" As you seek admission to the Class of 2026, what aspects of the College's program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? (maximum 100 words) ","label":"Dartmouth","title":"Dartmouth"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

How to write this type of essay

• Provide specific details that tie to an overarching theme : It’s very important to set up the connection between your academic ambitions and what the college has to offer. Think deeply about what you hope to achieve and why you’ve identified this specific college. Back up your thesis with specific details about the college. It’s not enough to say – “I love XYZ college, and I’d love to pursue ABC major there.” The why is crucial. Remember, in this essay, colleges don’t want to see you simply discuss you and your journey; they want to know how that journey led you to them. Back up your claims with details about what attracts you to them, which could be anything from the campus and famous alumni, to the college’s unique values, or their innovative curriculum.
• Go beyond the obvious : This type of essay is, crucially, asking you to do your research and go beyond the obvious. Don’t just talk about a school’s generally known reputation or what’s on their homepage. Instead, try to identify specific projects, academic opportunities, research avenues, extracurriculars, or faculty that interest you, and relate them to your goals.
• Consider what you can do for them : Think not only about why this college is a great choice for you, but why you are a great choice for them. Why do you think you’ll fit into their campus? Are there college traditions you would be proud to continue? Can you contribute to any on-going projects or initiatives on campus? Demonstrate why they should choose you by using a concrete example.

The Extracurricular Essay

In this essay, you may be asked to talk about a particularly meaningful extracurricular activity. You might have already covered the basic details of this activity in the activities section of your application, but supplemental essays dealing with your extracurricular activities get into more overtly personal territory. Remember, the intent here is not to simply get a rehash of your activities section or transcript; rather, in these essays, schools want you to get into the deeper aspects and psychological nuances of your involvement in those activities.

It’s important to keep in mind that most prompts will not directly reference extracurriculars, but the most likely answer to these kinds of prompt will include a discussion of an extracurricular activity. For instance, some colleges ask you to elaborate on an activity where you demonstrated leadership or what helps you explore your creative side.

University of California: Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. (maximum 350 words) ","label":"University of California 2","title":"University of California 2"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

• Pick the right activity : It’s important to pick the right activities to talk about in your supplemental essays. Research the school’s website and social media to see their mission, values, and what kind of qualities they value in their matriculants, and choose an activity that reflects these. While you obviously want to remain genuine in your essays, it does not mean you cannot be strategic. Choose an activity you know will resonate with the college you’re applying to. Another tip: If you’ve already discussed one activity in detail in your personal statement, avoid repeating that here. Additionally, don’t pick achievement-oriented activities just because you think this might impress the admissions committee. You’ve already communicated your achievements in the activities section – in this essay, you have a chance to share another side of your personality and show the admissions committee more of what makes you unique. So, you can either focus on activities you are passionate about but haven’t mentioned elsewhere, such as cooking, woodworking, non-competitive chess playing, and so on. Or pick a compelling angle for activities you’ve already mentioned. For instance, if you’ve noted being a musician in your application elsewhere, this essay would be an opportunity to discuss why and how it’s been meaningful in your life, and potentially the lives of others.
• Do not be repetitive : Think of the personal circumstances, feelings, failures, and learnings surrounding your extracurriculars and write an essay that elaborates on one of these aspects. For example, even if you do end up picking your top activity from your primary application to write about, make sure the essay you write covers a unique aspect of your experience that you haven’t discussed elsewhere in your application before. Continuing our previous example, don’t just cover the obvious aspects of musical performance, but get into the psychological impact of performing, and of what specific types or music have impacted you through immersive practice or playing. 

Check out this infographic:

This type of essay is often the hardest for students to navigate, and also comes with the longest minimum word count requirement, often 500 or more words. If you’ve had your head down in the grind of coursework and achievement-oriented activities for most of your time in high school, odds are, you haven’t had a lot of time to engage in community service or collective projects outside of school. In a sense, this is a supplemental essay that requires some advanced planning: volunteer or community service work is a widely-understood key to getting admitted to competitive universities, so you will need something to refer to in this regard. Moreover, in this essay more than any other, colleges want to see an account of meaningful experience rather than a mere description of activities performed. They’re looking for long-term involvement, thoughtful self-reflection, and a clear personal growth journey. It’s a lot to ask from a high school student writing a 500 word essay!

However, part of the brilliance of this type of essay is its flexibility. You don’t need to have built a new community center with your bare hands to have impacted your community. Maybe you’ve participated in a group project that benefitted other students, or maybe you took part in planning a school event. Even a part-time job likely had some impact on your neighbors and fellow citizens. You could also discuss “informal” activities, such as helping your elderly neighbor with her grocery shopping, helping your family with a cultural project, your background as a member of a minority group, and so on. Think creatively about the ways you’ve acted in the world, and from that, determine how those actions have impacted others.

MIT : At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world\u2019s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200\u2013250 words) ","label":"MIT","title":"MIT"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

• Find what makes you unique : If you’re having trouble identifying which communities you’ve been a part of, or which part of your identity to focus on, try the “what makes me unique?” angle. This is definitely something you would have brainstormed for your personal statement, so bring those notes out! We are all a part of various communities, whether we realize it or not, and we all contribute to them in our own unique way. You might have a unique skill or talent, or maybe it’s a personal quality that helped you deal with an issue in the community. Alternatively, maybe your background and identity are a key part of your life’s journey, and you have many experiences related to that. There’s no “wrong” community you could discuss, whether it’s a Dungeons and Dragons club you created with your friends, the ethnic community you’re a part of, or the neighborhood where you grew up. The key is to identify what makes you unique.
• Focus on your growth journey: The easiest way to discuss community engagement in a “meaningful” way is to focus on how you, individually, found growth and learning through your participation in a larger community, and how you simultaneously impacted them. No matter what the community is, the growth narrative is important. There has to be a clear two-way impact that demonstrates how your engagement and contributions affected those around you.

Create Your Own Class Essay

One of the more creative type of essays, these prompts ask students to come up with their own class, reimagine a whole department, conceptualize their ideal lecture series, and so on. This essay is your chance to show your creative and out-of-the-box thinking, while also expanding upon your academic interests and sharing your passions with the admissions committee. This essay is essentially a more creative alternative to the “why this major” essay.

Boston College : Boston College strives to provide an undergraduate learning experience emphasizing the liberal arts, quality teaching, personal formation, and engagement of critical issues. If you had the opportunity to create your own college course, what enduring question or contemporary problem would you address and why. (maximum 400 words) ","label":"Boston College","title":"Boston College"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

• Get creative : You can really use this essay topic to stand out from the crowd. Come up with a creative answer and expand upon it with fun, yet thoughtful details that show your intellectual curiosity and unique perspective on the world.
• Align your answer with the college : Remember, you’re being asked to come up with a course for the specific college you’re applying to. What’s their mission? What kind of curriculum do they have? What type of learning do they value? Find out the answer to these questions and incorporate these details in your essay. For example, if the college you’re applying to values an interdisciplinary learning environment, try to come up with a course that incorporates both science and humanities concepts.
• Use your experience : This prompt is also the school’s way to learn more about your personal goals and experiences. Try to ground your motivation for creating this course in your own life. For example, if you want to create a curriculum that covers the influence of fashion on punk rock culture, try to connect it to your own interests or skills, such as a sewing hobby or your love of underground culture.

The Major or Field of Study Essay

This can be a tricky essay type to handle for college students who are still undecided about their major, which is very natural for high school students. Luckily, not all colleges ask for this type of essay. You can expect this essay mostly from colleges focused on a specific stream of study, who want to know why you’re attracted to that field. Some elite universities, like Ivy League schools , also ask this question because they want to see the applicants’ long-term academic ambitions and how well these fit in with their own mission.

Interested in learning more about how to gain acceptance to an Ivy League School? Check out this video!

Sample essay prompt

MIT: Pick what field of study at MIT appeals to you the most right now, and tell us more about why this field of study appeals to you. (maximum 100 words) ","label":"MIT","title":"MIT"}]" code="tab5" template="BlogArticle">

• Include personal as well as college-specific details : Similar to the “why us” essay, you need to refer to specific details of the college program, faculty, academic curriculum, research opportunities, and campus life. Connect these details with your own experiences and passions and explain why this college or program aligns with your academic or professional interests. Think about key formative events and personal motivators for your interest. For example, if you’re applying to a top science, technology, engineering, or medicine (STEM) college such as MIT, you obviously have a specific passion for one of these subjects. While you can and should expand on your personal ambitions, don’t forget to explain why MIT is the best option to help you achieve them.
• Focus on the long-term : In a way, this type of essay is analogous to the “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” interview question. If you do have a clear plan of how you see your future academic and professional life developing, this essay is where you share it. However, you need to make sure you don’t just spin a beautiful story that isn’t based in reality. Your ambitions should be supported by thorough research, real-world industry knowledge, and a careful consideration of your own strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, don’t just include grand ambitions for the sake of sounding impressive – back them up with personal motivations, or better yet, include concrete, achievable goals. For instance, if you’re applying to the best undergrad business schools , your supplemental essay shouldn’t simply say “I want to be youngest CEO in the USA” or “I want to feature in a 30 under 30 article” – instead, it should focus on specific business interests and goals, for example – “I want to use my leadership skills, business training, and community engagement experience to eventually pay it forward by expanding the economic and business opportunities in my own community.”

The Quirky Essay

This type of essay is meant to catch you off-guard or ask you to write about something not often discussed in the context of admissions. These essays are often among the shortest in terms of length, and generally hope to evince some humor and self-awareness from the writers. Topics for these essays include odd talents, strange experiences, or hyper-specific situational questions like what superpower you’d choose if given the chance. They can also be quite general: Princeton, for instance, includes a prompt asking, simply, “what brings you joy?”.

Princeton: What brings you joy? (maximum 50 words) ","label":"Princeton","title":"Princeton"}]" code="tab6" template="BlogArticle">

• Keep the tone light : When responding to such prompts, don’t get too caught up in trying to be ultra-intellectual, serious, or different from the crowd. Be creative, have fun, and try and show a lighter side of your personality to the admissions committee. Match the tone of the question and don’t overthink this one too much!
• Be genuine : The tricky part about responding to these random and creative prompts is to make your answer humorous while also being as honest and genuine as possible. Sincerity is key – make sure you don’t pick an answer you think sounds funny, or impressive, but that isn’t strictly true and backed up by the rest of your application. For instance, if asked “what kind of bird are you”, if you respond with something like “eagle” and talk generically about your leadership qualities without any specific details, admissions committees will be able to tell you aren’t being genuine. You can give any answer you like here! The important thing is to justify it with real aspects of your personality that add some interesting color to your application.

Now, let’s look at how to structure essays depending on the length. We’ll also go over an example for each essay type. 

Short Supplemental Essay (250 Words or Fewer) Examples

According to our college admissions consulting experts, these can be quite dangerous for some students, so don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because an essay has a short word count, you don’t need to spend much time on it. This can actually be one of the toughest types of essays, since you have very limited space in which to capture the admission committee’s attention and make your point. When you start writing, you might find that by the time you’ve set up your premise, you’re already done with 80% of the available word count! The key here is to include crisp, well-structured sentences to directly address the question being asked. There’s not really any space for a “hook” here, such as a quote, story, or layered personal experience. Only include a story or a personal experience if the question explicitly asks you too. In just 250 words or less, you won’t be able to describe too complex an event or activity, so just cut straight to the point.

Recommended Structure

• Direct opening sentence : Your first sentence should clearly address the essay prompt and set up the topic. Don’t worry about this being a boring or straightforward strategy – that’s what you need here!
• Specific details to support the topic : Add personal details and self-reflections suitable for the prompt to support your opening sentence. Remember, every word is crucial here so leave out any unnecessary facts and descriptions – stick to what’s relevant. Try and focus on a single experience, reflection, opinion, or topic, as you really won’t be able to do justice to any more. At the same time, make sure you don’t sacrifice flow to brevity. Each sentence should connect smoothly to the next, setting up a logical pathway from your opening thesis to your conclusion.
• Conclusion : Add the key takeaway or reflection and tie it back to the prompt.

To see how a short essay should be structured, let’s take a look at this prompt from Brandeis :

“Justice Brandeis once said, ‘If we would guide by the light of reason, we must let our minds be bold.’ Tell us about something bold that you’ve recently done.”

Here’s a sample answer:

Although painting isn't itself an especially wild or bold activity, showing my art for the first time felt very bold indeed. As someone with a motor impairment, I've never been able to draw well, and found art classes throughout elementary school incredibly frustrating and embarrassing. However, discovering the wide and extremely varied world of abstract art a few years ago, I was finally bitten by the art bug, and began experimenting with acrylic paint. At first, I just learned how to operate the varying dilutions and textures of paint, but over time I became obsessed with the idea of color gradients and shading, and how the paint itself can do a lot of work that doesn't depend on a completely steady hand. I amassed a small stack of canvasses, and this past year asked around at the two art galleries in town to see if anyone was interested in putting some of my pieces up. Fortunately, and to my surprise, one independent gallery offered to show my entire collected work for a month. Not only did I receive a tonne of really positive and encouraging messages from visitors to the gallery, but I even sold 3 pieces! I was honestly terrified at every step of the way, but that first sale was about the most confidence-building event I've ever experienced. It felt bold, but also made me hungry to continue making art and sharing it with others. (237 words) 

Medium Supplemental Essay (250-500 Words) Examples

Shorter than your personal statement, longer than a short answer, these essays require you to balance a logical flow with a crisp central narrative.

While the basic structure of this essay can be similar to the long-form 650 word essay, you’ll need to make a few adjustments to suit the shorter length.

• Opening paragraph : You can choose to add an “anchor experience” for these essays, or you can write it in a more direct style, responding to the prompt and getting straight to the point. It depends on what you want to say and how you want to say it. For example, if your essay is focused on personal experiences, then an evocatively described personal experience could be a great hook. However, if the prompt asks you to provide your opinion about a specific issue or creatively imagine a specific scenario, then getting right to the point is a better idea.
• Main body : Here, you describe your central thesis and add further details to support it. You have to be very efficient with your choice of experiences and even with the details of any experience you chose to include. Each sentence should be in service of the essay prompt. Review this section with the questions “Is this related to the essay prompt? Does this help to answer the question being asked?”.
• Conclusion : The key to an efficient, memorable conclusion of a medium length supplemental essay is economy of words. In a single sentence, you should address the question being asked and also communicate your own central thesis, with a focus on what makes you special. Crafting this conclusion will take you time! First, identify the points you want to make, and then figure out a way to compress them into as few words as possible, without sacrificing clarity.

Let’s check out an example of this type of essay.

University of California: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? (maximum 350 words)

Growing up as the precocious daughter of hard-working immigrant parents, academic excellence and achievements were always the two key cornerstones of my life. My parents inculcated the importance of doing well in school in me from a young age. After all, it was education that had enabled my parents to escape the poverty and trauma of their homeland and find refuge in this country. With a natural penchant for academics and a love for learning, I never had cause to question this life-long commitment – not until junior year of high school.

That was the year when my parents’ restaurant business took a huge hit, and from a regular middle-class American immigrant success story, we were brought to the brink of bleak poverty. It was a shock to our family that took us through some of the toughest times I’ve ever experienced. We all had to make sacrifices, and one of the most profound changes I experienced in that period was a total shift in my priorities, as I had to work at my parents’ restaurant every day after school to help keep the business afloat. From being a grade-A student, I became a struggling straggler who could barely keep up with tests and exams, much less take on extra credit projects. At one point, I even considered quitting school! The worst part was watching the pain in my parents’ eyes, knowing they couldn’t provide the ideal home environment they had envisioned for me, which they themselves had never received.

However, looking back, I consider that period one of the most significant learning experiences of my life. It tested my commitment to my academic interests, which had previously always been so easy to pursue, and I came through with a system that allowed me to contribute at home and also excel at school. It made me further appreciate the struggles my parents had gone through as immigrants juggling family, work, education, and a major cultural adjustment. And finally, it made me appreciate what a gift and privilege education truly is, and vow never to take it for granted. (347 words)

Want to know a surprising fact? You might actually find the long-form supplemental essays easier to write than their shorter counterparts! These essays are typically 500 to 650 words long, which means you have plenty of space to build a coherent narrative, expand on your thesis, and support it with relevant details. When writing a longer supplemental essay, you can actually re-use many of the same strategies you employed for your Common App essay or personal statement. The basic structure (which we’ll explain in a moment) will be similar, and you can even recycle some of your rejected personal statement ideas to write an exemplary supplemental essay.

You can go for the commonly used 3 to 5 paragraph essay structure here. Include the following:

• Introduction : For longer essays, it’s critical to have a strong opening that hooks the reader and draws them into your narrative immediately. Admissions committees are reading thousands of essays, so you want to shake them out of their “reading fatigue” by capturing their attention with story, personal experience, unique quote, etc. In this paragraph, you should also clearly set up the central thesis of your essay. Critically for supplemental essays, ensure that your central thesis directly addresses or answers the prompt. Tie the “hook” of your opening paragraph in with this central thesis.
• Body paragraphs 1/2/3 : While the 5-paragraph structure is the most commonly used essay format for long-form essays, you can include more or fewer, as per the requirements of your specific narrative. Remember to be selective when you choose the experiences to support your thesis. In these paragraphs, you build on the central narrative you set up in introduction, supported with your self-reflections and personal examples. Include only the necessary details that help to build the central theme of the essay. Your essay should be written in a natural, direct style, but you can try and include evocative details and personal reflections to help communicate your point.
• Conclusion : As with all other supplemental essays, the conclusion is critical. You must include a key takeaway, learning, or crisp one-liner to sum up your answer to the question being asked.

Harvard : An intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science, or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most to you. (maximum 650 words)

“It is the sandbox of men who care not where they are going; they merely want to know where everyone else has been.”

It’s a hot summer’s day, I’m red-faced, sweaty, and out-of-breath, hunched over a pile of earth, delicately brushing away tiny amounts of ancient mud, and John Bishop’s words suddenly pop into my mind. Our project director, Professor Saltzman, had led a brief session that morning concluding with this memorable quote, and it stayed with me for one clear reason: I felt it perfectly encapsulated my own journey, from a guy who cared too much about where he was going, to someone who now primarily cared about the business of these long, long, dead ancient women and their kitchen tools. The irony of the realization made me chuckle a little, disturbing the earth around the little kitchen mound I was excavating, and then I went back to my gentle brushing, once again fully absorbed.

It was simply not a picture of myself I could have believed merely months prior. From a very young age, I had a vision of myself as a lawyer. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my father and grandfather, carving an illustrious career that would begin, like theirs, at Harvard, and end with me on the Supreme Court. This dream hit a minor snag when, due to a medical absence is junior year, I missed my AP History exam. Mr. Griffin, my history teacher, suggested that I complete a summer archeology program he was affiliated with to make up the credit. And that was how this “minor snag” actually ended up diverting my passions, interests, and ambitions away from law and firmly into the field of archeology.

It wasn’t exactly love at first sight. I was resistant to what I perceived was a distraction from my true interest, the practice of law – I thought then I’d much rather be shadowing my father in a cushy air conditioned office than sweating it out in a desert, digging for broken bits of ancient pottery. But within a couple of days, I found to my surprise that I loved every second of it. The director of the program, Professor Saltzman, liked to walk us through our findings, however minor, at the end of each day. For the benefit of the younger students present, he often delivered lectures expanding upon the critical contextual history of that period. I was amazed at how these small, faded pieces of pottery could tell us so much about the socio-cultural norms of 8000 years ago; from which countries they traded with to what they ate, from their dominant gender roles to the kinds of currency they used.

Most amazing of all, at least to me, was how archeology could actually help envision the lived reality of these people from long ago. Our key findings in that dig were the kitchen utensils of a woman we nicknamed “Leda”, a widowed fisherwoman with two children. Every day, we would discover a new piece of evidence and spend hours classifying, dissecting, and contextualizing it to discover all it could tell us about how Leda lived her life. I realized that all the physical discomforts were worth the thrill of bringing these tiny pieces of history back to life.

In those 4 weeks, I experienced a kind of wonder, and joy in learning, and intrinsically motivated intellectual curiosity, that I had never experienced before in my life. With law, I was primarily attracted to all the perceived prestige and privileges that accrued to the profession; with archeology, the subject matter itself drew me onwards to push past my prejudices and discomforts. Today, I hope to continue to pursue my passion for archeology by continuing my work under Professor Saltzman as an undergraduate at Harvard, and hopefully discover the secret lives of many more Ledas in the future. (643)

The personal statement is a more general essay with a broader scope, typically submitted as part of your primary application, whereas supplemental essays respond to specific prompts and are submitted with your secondary application directly to each school. You only need to write one personal statement (such as the Common App essay) which goes out to all your colleges, and it should therefore never include any college-specific details. On the other hand, each college asks for their own set of supplemental essays, and they may often ask you to expand upon your interest in the specific college, program, or major you are applying to. A personal statement is a single long-form essay of 650 words or more, whereas colleges can ask for multiple supplemental essays that can range in length from 35 to 650 words.

The most commonly used supplemental college essay prompts are:

• The “why us” essay that asks you to discuss why you want go to a specific college
• The extracurricular essay that asks you to discuss your activities, talents, or skills
• The community essay that asks you to expand upon your identity, diversity, community engagement, and so on
• The “why this major” essay that asks you to discuss your specific academic interests
• The “create a class” essay that asks you to creatively design a major or come up with your own class
• The “quirky” essay that can include creative, zany, out-of-the-box, informal prompts

Supplemental college essays can range in length from 35 words to 650 words. Every college has their own prompts and requirements, so you should check the admissions website of your colleges to learn more.

The “why this school” college essay is one of the most common supplemental college essay types. It’s very important to be college-specific in this essay, and to include details of your special interest in the concerned college supported by your knowledge of their unique offerings. You will have to do some research on the college so you can make your essay as specific and unique as possible.

Yes, supplemental essays are a critical part of your application. They help to personalize and flesh out your application, building on your achievements, transcripts, and scores, to show the admissions committee a well-rounded, unique individual. Crucially, supplemental essays are a chance for you to show how well your thinking and experiences align with the college’s missions and values and why you would be an excellent candidate for their program.

A word count of 250 words or less can pose a significant challenge for students. To write an effective short answer, you need to be concise and direct, addressing the question asked while building a logical flow from introduction to conclusion. There’s no space in such questions for fancy opening hooks and elaborate narratives – just stick to the relevant experiences and reflections and always connect back to the prompt itself.

It depends on the topic! It’s not a good idea to copy paste the essay content for college-specific prompts such as “why us” or “why this major”, where the expectation is that you will talk in detail about the unique features of that college which attract you. However, for more generic topics like “what inspires you” or “how did you serve your community”, you can certainly re-use topics and themes between essays. Just make sure you edit each essay to meet the specific word count and include college specific details wherever possible. Additionally, you should always read and understand the prompt thoroughly before drafting your essay. Respond to the spirit as well as the letter of the prompts in your opening and concluding sentences, even if you’ve re-used most of the main body content from another similar essay.

Supplemental college essays certainly afford you greater room to be creative and informal than your personal statement. However, the extent to which this style of writing would be appropriate depends on the prompts. The short answer, zany, creative prompts, are the perfect place to show a lighter side of your personality and introduce a little humor in your application. But an essay about significant obstacles you’re overcome, or your long-term academic goals, might not be an ideal place to get overtly casual and humorous.

You will receive your secondary application directly from the college after you submit your primary application. The deadline to complete secondary applications varies from college to college. Most colleges ask you to submit your completed supplemental application, including essays, within 2 weeks or a month of receiving the prompts. This isn’t a lot of time, especially considering most colleges will be sending out secondary applications in the same rough time period and you’ll have to work on multiple applications at once. However, you can prepare in advance for your supplemental essays by brainstorming ideas and writing rough drafts in response to previous years’ prompts.

Every college has their own unique secondary application requirements. You should check the admissions websites of your colleges to learn more about their specific requirements. Some colleges may ask for just a single 650-word essay, while others may provide 5 or 6 prompts of varying lengths. Generally speaking, most colleges don’t ask for more than 1 or 2 long supplemental essays (500+ words), along with 2 or 3 shorter essays.

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Can extracurricular activities contain sth like assisting family ,and socal activities that doesn't encounter certificate?

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How to Write a Supplemental Essay for College Applications

Discover tips for tackling writing supplements, and read a sample essay from a current student.

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A supplemental essay gives you an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about something you weren't able to cover in your main essay.

Prospective students are usually aware that they must write an essay as part of the college application process . But they may not know that some schools will ask for additional writing samples such as a supplemental essay.

Avoid These College Application Mistakes

Courtney Rubin and Cole Claybourn July 26, 2023

These writing supplements are usually shorter than the main college essay , but they're no less important, experts say.

"Every word counts in getting your story across," says Deborah Davis, president and founder of Davis Education & Career Consultants LLC, based in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Some colleges ask for just one supplemental essay while others may require several.

For example, Wake Forest University in North Carolina had six additional questions for prospective students to respond to on its 2020 undergraduate admissions application. However, a couple of the questions asked applicants to write lists – for instance, a personal top 10 list – rather than a full paragraph or two.

Supplemental essay prompts come in all shapes and sizes. In some cases, schools let applicants choose from several options. For instance, the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill 's fall 2019-20 application included four prompts – such as "What do you hope will change about the place where you live?" – from which prospective students had to select two.

Davis says two of the most common prompts she's seen are "What do you want to major in?" and "Tell us about a favorite activity."

While word counts for supplemental essays vary, they tend to be limited.

Wake Forest has a 150-word limit for each of its supplements, says Tamara Blocker, the university's senior associate dean of admissions. UNC caps applicants' short answer responses at 250 words each, according to the school's website.

In contrast, The Common Application , a platform that allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once, has a suggested 650-word limit for the main essay and 250 words for others.

These types of written responses are more like vignettes or snapshots, rather than full-blown essays, says Stephen Farmer, vice provost for enrollment and undergraduate admissions at UNC.

"I think – I hope, anyway – that students feel the opportunity maybe in the shorter responses to worry less about form and just be a little more open with us," he says.

To help prospective students familiarize themselves with supplemental essays, U.S. News obtained an example from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Ryan Sheehan from Wallingford, Pennsylvania, wrote the short piece and is a computer science major in the class of 2021.

As part of his application, Sheehan responded to the following prompt: "There is a Quaker saying: 'Let your life speak.' Describe the environment in which you were raised – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – and how it influenced the person you are today."

"As the son of two journalists, I have grown up under a lifelong inquisition: How is your room such a mess? Can you please stop chasing the cat? Will you come down from the tree already? Granted, those are all from this past year, but the point still stands. Like any good journalists, my parents have also always had a propensity for uncovering the truth. On the third night that I had my license, I decided to go to the library to study. Before 15 minutes had passed, I noticed the librarian peering at me through the shelves before quickly averting her eyes and whispering, "He's here," into her phone. Even so, regardless of how many spies they've hired over the years, I have always looked up to my parents immensely. However, I have found my inherited inquisitiveness to be a trait most useful in a place far from the realm of reporting: the robotics lab. After four years of spending almost more time in the lab than at home, I have learned that nothing is more important than asking the right questions. As a programmer, I need to be able to communicate with my builders. Come press time, if I don't interview them properly, our robot will invariably end up as a hunk of unresponsive aluminum. To make a machine, the team must work as one. So although I may be writing source code instead of a breaking story, I am glad I had such nosy parents after all."

Karen Richardson, former dean of undergraduate admissions and enrollment management at Tufts who is now dean of admission at Princeton University in New Jersey, explained why she liked this response: "This is a great essay because, in just 250 words, it shows rather than tells the reader who Ryan is and the things that matter to him. It gives us a sense of his family life and academic interests, and it even shows us he has a sense of humor. As an admissions committee, we learned a lot about Ryan in just one paragraph."

Here are five additional tips from admissions officers to help prospective college students craft strong supplemental essays.

Answer the Question

This may seem obvious, but applicants should carefully read a supplemental essay prompt and make sure they understand what it is asking before answering it, Richardson says.

Prospective students may want to reuse an essay they wrote for another college, but that doesn't always work because supplemental questions tend to be more tailored to an individual institution, she says.

Start With an Outline

Applicants may have their own writing process, but Davis encourages those she works with to create outlines. She says prospective students should brainstorm the personal qualities, skills or experiences they would like to convey in their supplemental essays.

Don't Repeat Yourself

Supplemental essays are a chance for applicants to give more information to an admissions committee to further show why they are a good fit for a school, Davis says. So prospective students should make sure they aren't repeating something that's already been covered in their main essay.

Narrow Your Focus

Probably the biggest mistake applicants make in supplemental essays is choosing a topic that's too big, Farmer says. For example, he says prospective students may attempt to settle a complex political issue in just one paragraph.

"I think it's better to do something small and do it well than to do something big and skate over the surface," he says.

Maintain Your Voice

It's a good idea for applicants to ask another person for editing help, but too much input can be detrimental to an essay, experts say. If lots of people – teachers, parents, peers – read and weigh in on an essay, they can weaken how clearly a student's voice comes through in the writing.

"It's great to read something that sounds like it was written by an 18-year-old and not by a machine," Farmer says, "or by someone who's trying to be prematurely middle-aged."

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Highly-selective colleges and universities often require supplemental application materials. These materials help further personalize the admissions process so that each college’s admissions committee has the information it needs to select a vibrant and diverse incoming class. 

In this article, we will look at 10 supplemental essay prompts from top colleges and universities for the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Once you get a better sense of what to expect from a supplemental essay prompt, we will outline key strategies for answering these prompts, as well as provide practical writing tips to help you get started.

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What are supplemental essays and are they important?

Each college has its own sets of values and criteria that it looks for in applicants. This is why determining college fit is so important. By carefully researching each school on your college list and having several clear and compelling reasons for wanting to attend, you will increase your overall chances of admission.    

One way that colleges gauge whether or not a student would be a good fit for their university is by posing unique supplemental essay prompts. This is why knowing how to write a supplemental essay is so important. Most colleges with supplemental essays will have applicants write the “why this college” essay . 

Many selective colleges will require additional supplemental essays as well. In some cases, you will need to prepare an additional five essays per school, so give yourself plenty of time to complete each essay thoughtfully, write multiple drafts, seek out feedback, and proofread. The college application process can feel overwhelming at times, so make sure you brainstorm ways to stay organized during the college application process . 

Although the style and content of the actual prompts can vary greatly, at the core these prompts have one thing in common: They are designed to get to know who you are as a person, what your values are, and whether you demonstrate compatibility with the university’s overall mission. 

How to write supplemental essays

If you’re looking for supplemental essay tips, you’ve come to the right place! In this section, we will discuss how to write a good supplemental essay, by providing several key application essay tips. 

To start, it’s important to remember that the process of writing supplemental essays is similar to the process of writing a successful personal statement . Review components of a strong personal statement to give yourself a fresh perspective before beginning your supplemental essays.

Tips for writing supplemental essays

Supplemental essays are typically pretty brief. This is why it’s important to learn how to write concisely and powerfully. Having very few words to respond does not mean that you should prepare your responses casually or that your responses shouldn’t include lots of details. Rather, approach each word limit creatively. Whether you have 50 words, 200 words, or 500 words, try to use each sentence and detail to your advantage. One of the best ways to do this is to begin by freewriting. Write down everything that comes to mind. Take time to fully flush out your ideas. Then review what you’ve written and see what feels most important. These are the details you will want to highlight in your response.

Some colleges will require three to five additional essays. Maybe even more! This is why it’s important to be prepared and plan ahead. Supplemental essays are an important part of your college application and they require a lot of time and effort. While some supplemental essay prompts may be similar between schools, in general, you want to avoid recycling your college essays. Admissions officers can tell when a student is tweaking an existing essay to fit a prompt.

While some essay prompts are required, others are optional. In general, try to answer each prompt thoughtfully and creatively. After all, it’s no secret that college admissions are highly competitive so it’s great to give your application “an edge” whenever possible. That said, there are times when you should pass on writing an optional essay. If you’re not sure whether or not you should submit an essay for an optional prompt, begin by drafting a response. Then ask yourself if the essay feels forced or genuine. Does the essay convey something new about you that isn’t included in the rest of your application? If the question doesn’t seem to apply to you and you are genuinely unsure what to contribute, you should probably skip that particular essay. After all, no one wants to read an uninspired essay that doesn’t contribute to your overall application.

2022-23 supplemental essay prompts

As mentioned, supplemental essay prompts can vary significantly. Some prompts ask you to respond in 50 words while other prompts ask you to respond in 500 words. Some prompts focus on academics while others ask you to reflect carefully on your cultural upbringing or life philosophies. Still, other prompts will ask you to introduce who you are as a person or discuss something that you enjoy.

Just as supplemental essay prompts vary in style, your responses will also vary. Some prompts will require you to be thoughtful and serious, while other prompts may encourage you to be humorous or creative. It all depends.

Brown University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Brown University requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words)

Columbia University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Columbia University requires the following supplemental materials: 1 list of 75 words, 1 list of 125 words, 3 essays of 200 words each, and 1 short answer of 35 words. One of their supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

For the following questions, we ask that you list each individual response using commas or semicolons; the items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order. No explanatory text or formatting is needed. (For example, it is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications. No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.)  

List the titles of the books, essays, poetry, short stories or plays you read outside of academic courses that you enjoyed most during secondary/high school. (75 words or fewer)

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Dartmouth college supplemental essay prompt.

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Dartmouth College requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

“Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself in 200-250 words. 

Duke University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Duke University requires at least one supplemental essay, with the option to submit an additional two supplemental essays. One of the optional supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Emory University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Emory University requires two supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Emory If you could witness a historic event (past, present or future) first-hand, what would it be, and why?

Harvard University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Harvard University requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words)

MIT supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, MIT requires five supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows:

We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

Princeton University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Princeton University requires three supplemental essays and three short responses. One of the short-answer prompts is as follows:

Please respond to each question in 75 words or fewer. There are no right or wrong answers. Be yourself!

What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?

What brings you joy? 

What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?

Stanford University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Stanford University requires three supplemental essays and five short answer responses. One of the short-answer prompts is as follows:

How did you spend your last two summers? (50-word limit)

UPenn supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, UPenn requires three supplemental essays. One of the supplemental essay prompts is as follows: 

Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words)

Yale University supplemental essay prompt

As a part of the 2022-23 college applications, Yale University requires the following supplemental materials: 1 list; 6 short answer questions; 1 additional short essay of 400 words. One of the short answer prompts is as follows:

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What would you ask them to discuss? (200 characters or fewer)

Supplemental essay examples

One of the best ways to prepare your supplemental essay responses is to look at successful past examples. In this section, we will look at three examples and explain why each response is successful. 

This first example was submitted as a part of Harvard’s college application. This essay is in response to the prompt: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words).

Feet moving, eyes up, every shot back, chants the silent mantra in my head. The ball becomes a beacon of neon green as I dart forward and backward, shuffling from corner to far corner of the court, determined not to let a single point escape me. With bated breath, I swing my racquet upwards and outwards and it catches the ball just in time to propel it, spinning, over the net. My heart soars as my grinning teammates cheer from the sidelines. While I greatly value the endurance, tenacity, and persistence that I have developed while playing tennis throughout the last four years, I will always most cherish the bonds that I have created and maintained each year with my team.

This essay uses rich, descriptive language to evoke a clear sense of movement and place. The first paragraph shows a creative and expert control of language, whereas the second paragraph uses straightforward language to highlight key characteristics. Overall, this response is creative, well-balanced, and uses each word to its advantage. 

Source: https://www.collegeadvisor.com/essay-guides/harvard-university-essay-examples-and-why-they-worked/  

This essay was submitted as a part of an MIT college application. The supplemental essay prompt that it addresses is: Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, clubs, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

We were moving away from my home of thirteen years to go miles and miles away, from my whole life. Worst of all: away from New York City – the only place in the world worth knowing – or so I thought. The town might as well have been called “Miniscule Ville”. I resented every second of it. The real shocking thing to me was almost that anything existed outside of New York City. NYC is a world of its own, with its own pulses and lifeblood. I still think it’s a great place, and I’ll likely at least visit it someday, but right now, I want to visit everywhere. My move humbled me. I began to love nature walks, the friendly camaraderie of the small town, and saw a world I never imagined. I thought I knew it all just because I lived in New York. Here was a great place, hidden from view. I loved experiencing that new world, learning local history, and most of all, learning the life stories of my new neighbors, each one of whom had a fascinating life. My greatest dream is to be a journalist, covering other countries, and learning about new worlds and neighbors. My old perspective feels so limited. If I can share global stories, I can open up my perspective, and I can share those stories with a thousand homes so readers can learn about other perspectives as well. The world is full of different lives. Everywhere is somebody’s home.

This essay covers a lot of material; most impressively, it shows a shift in perspective and its effect on the student’s lived experience. It also clearly explains the student’s academic and professional goals. The tone of this essay is both confident and humble. It demonstrates who this student is as a person, what their goals are, and what they value.  

Source: https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/mit-supplemental-essay-examples  

This essay was submitted as a part of a Duke college application. The essay addresses the prompt: What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?

Most teachers who taught me talked a big game about wanting students to engage in debate, or “dialectic” as they called it, and to challenge their ideas. In my experience, most of this was a fabrication. The best essay grades and participation marks were found through parroting what was dictated from on high. Did the teacher think such-and-such is the “correct” interpretation of a novel? You did, too, or you lost points. None of that was true for Ms. Jackie Winters. The first essay I sent her came back with the note, “This doesn’t sound like you; it sounds like me.” I asked her about the note, and this initiated a marvelous learning environment, in which I grew faster than I ever have in any other class. Discussions were lively, and the more I presented my authentic views, the more I was respected. My grades were dependent on being backed up by rhetoric, sources, and logic, not by compliance. Due to this engagement, this was the most enjoyable English literature class I had, and I feel like my viewpoints were challenged. I learned to question my ideas and dig into a text for the best results. Best of all, I was putting in more and more effort to find good, quality sources to back up my arguments. I was held to a high standard and shown respect, and I believe that those qualities made for the best learning environment possible

This essay clearly shows a shift in perspective and the effects it had on this student’s ability to think, speak, and write critically. Structurally, this essay uses an anecdote to introduce and contextualize a topic, but the essay itself isn’t overly narrative. Rather, the student explains, in detail, how this teacher’s encouragement and guidance have influenced their willingness and ability to engage with the source material and academic discourse.

Source: https://bemoacademicconsulting.com/blog/duke-supplemental-essay-examples  

Key takeaways and moving forward

Supplemental essays are an important part of your college applications. In fact, they are a key factor in what college admissions officers look for in an applicant . Highly-selective colleges and universities use supplemental essays to further personalize the college admissions process. After all, thousands of qualified students apply to Ivy League institutions each year and only a small fraction are admitted. Supplemental essays allow you to share more about who you are as a person and as a student. Use each prompt as an opportunity to add something new to your college application. If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance throughout this process, reach out to learn more about our services .

Frequently asked questions and answers

Still have questions about supplemental essays and the effects they have on college applications? Review the following frequently asked questions and answers for further insight on supplemental essays. 

How important are supplemental essays?

Supplemental essays are an incredibly important part of your college applications and should be properly prioritized. If a college didn’t care about your response, they wouldn’t ask you in the first place. Put plenty of time and care into your responses. Write several drafts, seek out feedback, and always proofread.

How long should supplemental essays be?

Always follow directions. Colleges will specify how long each supplemental essay should be, usually right after the prompt itself. Depending on the college, and the prompt, a supplemental essay’s word count may range anywhere from 50 to 500 words.

Do supplemental essays change every year?

It all depends on the college. Colleges often reuse past prompts, but there are no guarantees. This is why it’s important to plan ahead and make a list of supplemental essay prompts early on in the college application process.

Are supplemental essays required?

Sometimes colleges will have both required and optional supplemental essays. That said, the essay prompts are clearly labeled. In short, each college will specify whether supplemental essays are required. 

Do all colleges have supplemental essays?

No, not all colleges have supplemental essays. Highly-selective colleges, however, often require at least one additional essay.

• December 14, 2022

Supplemental Essay Guide for 2022-23 Prompts

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Supplemental Application Requirements

Some departments require writing samples or other supplemental application materials from applicants. Check your department's requirements before beginning your application, and direct specific questions about the requirements (including questions about topic, length, or formatting) directly to the department.

How to Submit

For  required  writing samples and other application materials, a "Departmental Requirements" section will appear in the application upon program selection. Please upload the required materials in this section as instructed in the application.

For optional supplemental uploads not required by the department, please upload documents in the "Optional Supplemental Uploads" section of the "Supplemental Uploads" page.

Upload Instructions

• We support ONLY PDF file formats for uploads.
• Uploaded documents may contain no more than 75 pages. We support files as large as 5 GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time.
• Should you experience difficulties uploading your file, please ensure that you're using a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) on the fastest wired Internet connection available. An intermittent or slow internet connection can cause uploads to time out.
• Do not upload anything but the requested documents in the Required Supplemental Uploads sections. If you would like to upload additional documents in support of your application (optional writing samples, research documents, or other files), please do so separately in the Optional Supplemental Uploads section of the page under "Additional Information." Be sure any optional documents are clearly labeled.

How To Write A Great Application Supplement

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As a way to better understand how to write a great application supplement, it’s important first to define the difference between the personal statement and the application supplement. These styles between essays can also vary depending on the prompts provided by the institution: 

What is an application supplement anyways? 

An application supplement is a college or University prompted essay that can sometimes contain multiple short essay questions to better understand a candidate’s interest in their programs, the candidate’s passion, or other outside influences that impact their life. It can better tell your story and who you are. The purpose of the supplement is simply to provide more information to the admissions team that they haven’t seen before. This is different from the personal essay because it defines specific aspects of the school that resonate with you, revealing why you want to go to school, and how you make a good fit. 

Why is it important? 

The supplement can be a way for the admissions team to discover how much you know about the school and why you want to matriculate there. What is so special about their institution?  What connects your passion to their programs, student life, and campus culture? This is where you can elaborate on the specific details of what made you apply. A nice way to simplify your brainstorming for this essay is thinking about it like a cover letter. You’re highlighting why you’re a good fit for the University, your passions/interests, and why this position (or institution in your case) is a good fit for you. Essentially, you’re showing off how much you know about the college specific to your interests (this is important because you don’t want to be throwing random facts about the institution), and you as it pertains to your academic and career goals. 

What are three key elements to include?

• The elements of the institution that you connect with 

While each supplement will be different based upon the college you apply to, you want to subtly reveal a few unique things about the college that are relevant to your interests. Examples of this could be a specific departmental event that happens every year, like a research conference or an essay competition. Based upon your proposed major or subjects that you would like to explore, you should be able to weave in aspects of the institution that interest you and appeal to your academic interests. This will show the admissions committee that you have researched and taken advantage of their resources, which is a strong skill as a college student. Likewise, it can also help you stand out from other applicants who may not know what is relevant to them for their academic goals. 

2. Why you want to go 

The first key element goes into this next element of writing about why you want to attend the specific school. Institutions want to know why you make a great fit for their institution, and part of that could be the alignment of your interests and their interests. U of R, for example, has a mission statement of “Meliora,” meaning “ever better.” Most of what U of R stands for is about making a difference, and making impactful change. Perhaps your interests align with this mission statement— maybe you want to go into the medical field to improve upon community healthcare, or perhaps you want to address international policies about climate change. These specifics are determined by you. The more specific, the better. Think about why you really want to go to the school you are applying to, and if their mission statement or programs, culture, student life, etc. fits with those goals. 

3. How you are a good candidate 

Finally, to tie it all together, you want to also showcase why you deserve to be a student at your potential school. This is your opportunity to reveal why you are the best candidate. Integrated with your answers about why you are applying and what elements of the institution stand out to you, you want to shine a light on the skills that make you unique. Even though you may have established who you are in your personal statement, the admissions team can’t possibly know everything about you through that essay, let alone your grades and accolades. 

Like a cover letter, you want to address the skills that match with the skills you will be improving upon while in college. Perhaps you’re really good at problem solving, and you want to join the prestigious student government because you know you’ll be able to contribute your problem solving skills. Another example could be that you bring a diverse, creative background with you. Maybe you have a passion for open dialogues and meeting new people and that aligns with the school’s goal of creating diverse spaces. The best way to think about this element is to think about the natural strengths that you bring to the elements that make you want to go to the school. 

What is a Creative Supplement? 

When I was applying to U of R, I had the opportunity to submit a Creative Supplement with my application. This was an optional choice, but because I had a background in creative writing, it was important to me that the Admissions team see that side of me. Not only did I want to showcase my creativity and creative writing skills, I also wanted to reveal a moment for me that could be seen as “the spark” of why I am a hardworking student. 

For me, I wrote a brief poem about a moment when I was younger. The poem recreated a moment I realized that I wanted to write stories and not wait to do so— showcasing the part of me that takes risks, challenges myself, and never ceases an opportunity to create something. 

While this example is specific to me and my passion, it reveals that your intent for the creative supplement should be about exploring an element of you that you want the admissions team to see. 

In short, a creative supplement allows you as a candidate to demonstrate your artistic abilities. This can add to your personal statement and the story you are painting with your application. If you have an interest or passion for music, art, writing, etc., you can use the creative supplement as a way to showcase your talent and deep-dive into your critical thinking. It is also a way of revealing your character traits; for me, I was able to show my resilience and driven mindset based upon the topic of the poem. 

Conclusion 

Overall, the best way to go into writing your application supplement is to think about the natural connections between you and the school. Asking important questions like “why do you want to go?” or “what courses align with your passions?”  and “what skills can you bring to the table?” add to the cohesive narrative. When you’re having trouble identifying these key elements, make sure to take a breath and go back to the beginning— what stands out to you? What makes you excited to be applying? These questions can lead to a more natural response to the prompts, and allows you to reveal your most unique strengths. 

Home / FAQs / After Applying / My university program choice requires a supplementary application. How do I include that with my OUAC application?

My university program choice requires a supplementary application. How do I include that with my OUAC application?

If a supplementary application is required for your program choice(s), the university will contact you after they receive your OUAC application.

You must submit your supplementary application directly to the university. The university will provide instructions and deadlines for all supplementary requirements.

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Supplementary Materials

We encourage you to convey the breadth and depth of your extracurricular pursuits within the activities section of your admission application—including the full name of each organization in which you participate and a brief description of your involvement. While we request that the volume of supplementary credentials be kept to a minimum, there may be occasions where such credentials provide valuable information that the standard application does not. 

Please note that supplements are not a required part of our admissions process. If you plan to submit supplementary credentials, please follow the instructions below.

Dates & deadlines

Early Decision applicants must submit their supplements by November 1 and Regular Decision applicants must submit their supplements by January 1. Transfer Applicants must submit their supplements by March 1.

Types of submissions

Academic research.

If you have completed research with a faculty member or mentor in science, engineering or other academic disciplines (e.g., humanities, social sciences or languages), you are welcome to provide a one or two page abstract as a supplement to your application. You may upload your abstract in the Columbia-specific questions to the Common Application or in the Uploads page of the Coalition Application.

If you are submitting an abstract, you will also be asked to answer a few short questions on the duration of your research involvement, your specific role in and contributions to the research project, and contact information of your research mentor. This will help us better understand your specific research experience beyond what you may have already included in your other application materials.

We also welcome a letter of recommendation from your research mentor, who can send the letter via email to [email protected] , via fax to 212-854-3393, or via mail to Undergraduate Admissions .

Creative Portfolios

You may wish to submit supplementary portfolios if you intend to bring creative talents to Columbia’s campus either through a major and/or extracurricular opportunities.

Supplements are entirely optional and not required for the admissions process. Students will have access to the arts and maker communities and facilities, and are able to participate in the arts communities of Columbia regardless of supplement submissions or majors. Most students who choose to submit an Artistic Portfolio have achievements at the local, state, national or international level related to their craft, and have devoted a significant amount of time and energy to their art form(s). The Maker Portfolio may be an opportunity for students to highlight past creations or ongoing projects that demonstrate creativity and ingenuity, technical ability and hands-on problem solving. 

Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Film, Maker, Music and Visual Arts supplements can be submitted through Columbia's SlideRoom portal . Please select the program corresponding to the application type you are using for your application to Columbia.   

Please submit up to 10 digital images or models that highlight your best work. Images may be submitted only in jpg, png, or gif formats, up to 5 MB each. 3D models may be submitted via Sketchfab. Specify the title, year and medium for each submission.

Applicants are welcome to submit a résumé (in pdf format) listing their architecture experience and recognition.

A processing fee of $10 will be required at the time of submission.

Please submit a document (in pdf format) of your sample creative writing in any of the following areas: poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction. Do not submit journalism samples or full books. Submissions should not exceed 5 pages.

Applicants are required to include a résumé (in pdf format) listing their creative writing experience and recognition.

A processing fee of $5 will be required at the time of submission.

Please submit a video sample of your dance performance between 4 to 6 minutes in length. List your name, title of the piece, choreographer, music composer/title, and the place and date of your performance. If not a solo recording, also indicate your performance in the description section of the media details. You may upload a video file no larger than 250 MB or provide a link to a video hosting site (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo). Videos should not include any biographical or introductory material. Submissions should reflect material filmed within the last two years.

Applicants are required to submit a résumé (in pdf format) listing their dance experience and recognition.

Please submit either a video sample of theatrical performance, directing, design and/or playwriting or a document (in pdf format) of either a script or a portfolio demonstrating contributions in directing or design. You may upload a video file no larger than 250 MB or provide a link to a video hosting site (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo). Videos should not include any biographical or introductory material.

Applicants are required to submit a résumé (in pdf format) listing their drama and theatre arts experience and recognition.

Please submit a video sample of your film work or a screenplay (in pdf format). Video submissions should be up to 10 minutes in length. You may upload a video file no larger than 250 MB or provide a link to a video hosting site (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo).  List your name and role in the production in the description section of the media details. Videos should not include any biographical or introductory material.

Applicants are required to submit a résumé (in pdf format) listing their film experience and recognition.

The Maker Portfolio is an opportunity for students to highlight completed or ongoing projects that they have built, fabricated, invented, produced, or otherwise created. These projects should demonstrate creativity and ingenuity, technical ability and hands-on problem solving. 

Students who would like their technically creative work to be reviewed alongside their application materials can submit up to 4 media items (images, video, 3D models, audio files, documents, or external links), documenting one or several projects. Submitted media can reflect any step in the design process, from blueprints and specifications, through demonstrations of completed work. Students will also be asked to answer a few short questions about the duration of their project, their specific role in and contributions to the project, and contact information of a mentor or advisor who can speak to this creative work. 

Please select two works contrasting in period and tempo, and choose from one of three possible types of submissions:

Live auditions are not part of Columbia’s admissions process, but auditions for private lessons, selective ensembles, troupes and various productions are held for enrolled students at the start of each academic year.

List the composer, name of the work, instrument performed and year recorded or composed. If not a solo recording, please indicate your performance in the description section of the media details. The combined length of recordings should not exceed 20 minutes. Recordings should not include any biographical or introductory material.

Video must be provided via a video hosting site link (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo) or uploaded as a video file no larger than 250 MB.

Applicants are required to submit a résumé (in pdf format) listing their music experience and recognition.

Applicants applying to the Columbia-Juilliard Program should submit material for Columbia faculty review.

Please submit up to 20 images that highlight the best work in your portfolio. Images may be submitted only in jpg, png, or gif formats, up to 5 MB each. Please specify the title, year and medium for each submission.

Applicants are welcome to submit a résumé (in pdf format) listing their visual arts experience and recognition.

In addition to creative materials, each portfolio requires you to list the name and contact information of a reference who may be contacted to corroborate your depth of talent in and/or dedication to your creative discipline. Examples of appropriate references may include, but are not limited to: club or activity supervisors, in-school teachers, private instructors, internship or job supervisors, and mentors.

Each submission incurs a fee, listed in each program above. If paying the submission fee is a financial burden for your family, we encourage you to request a fee waiver by emailing [email protected] prior to submitting your SlideRoom portfolio. Additional instructions for a SlideRoom fee waiver can be found on the Slide Room portal .

Schoolhouse.world Certifications

Applicants to Columbia are welcome to submit Schoolhouse.world certifications as an optional supplement to their application.

Certifications from Schoolhouse.world are just one way for you to demonstrate your academic achievement. While these certifications do not fulfill official requirements like transcripts and letters of recommendation, they can be a great opportunity for students who wish to learn or show competencies in subjects not offered as part of their school curriculum, particularly in math.

Other considerations

We specifically ask that you do not send collections of awards or certificates, and we explicitly direct that you refrain from submitting or mailing any type of supplementary materials in binders or folders. Do not send CDs, DVDs or hard copies of any materials, as they will not be reviewed.

Finally, please be advised that we can provide no guarantee that all materials will be reviewed or evaluated, as they are not required for the admission process.

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Supplementary Application Form

Who Needs to Complete a Supplementary Application Form?

The Supplementary Application Form (SAF) is only a requirement if you applied to one of the following programs and is important for both admission and scholarship consideration:

• Management (regular and co-op)
• Management & International Business (co-op)
• Double Degree (BBA/HBSc) (regular and co-op)
• International Development Studies (co-op)
• Music Industry and Technology
• Paramedicine

What is a SAF?

A SAF helps us get to know you better. What is your story? We welcome students with varied lived experiences and whose activities demonstrate learning and/or leadership potential beyond their academic records. The SAF is a space for you to tell us about your life, interests, and goals for attending U of T Scarborough. We are looking for engaged students of any background who will bring leadership, passion, and diverse perspectives. 

At the University of Toronto Scarborough, we welcome students with varied lived experiences and whose activities demonstrate learning and/or leadership potential beyond their academic records. We believe strongly that every applicant should be given an equitable opportunity to join our learning community. Please fill out the SAF to the best of your ability so we can get to know more about who you are and what you have learned from your experiences (rather than simply listing how many extracurricular activities you have participated in). Your responses will be read by university staff with a diverse set of backgrounds and an anti-discriminatory lens. 

We strive to make our processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations for applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require any accommodation in the supplementary application process, please contact [email protected] .

SAF Deadlines

The current deadlines to submit the SAF can be found on the Dates & Deadlines page . If you’ve already submitted an application for admission, please refer to the SAF deadline listed in your JOIN U of T portal . We encourage you to submit your SAF as soon as possible for earlier consideration. The sooner that we receive your SAF, the earlier you will be considered for admission. The SAF is available through the JOIN U of T portal  in late October/early November each year.

SAF Requirements

“Scarborough is a meeting place of peoples from around the world where we engage with local and global challenges and opportunities…embracing and promoting the enriching contributions that come from the diverse backgrounds, ways of knowing, ideas, perspectives, and experiences represented in our community.”    —Inspiring Inclusive Excellence: A Strategic Vision for the University of Toronto Scarborough (2020–2025)    Everyone has a purpose. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?    At the University of Toronto Scarborough, we welcome students with varied lived experiences and whose activities demonstrate learning and/or leadership potential beyond their academic records. We believe strongly that every applicant should be given an equitable opportunity to join our learning community.    The SAF is a space for you to tell us about your life, your interests, and your goals for attending U of T. The questions are designed to amplify your unique qualifications and contributions beyond your academic transcripts as we consider your application for admission.

We strive to make our processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations for applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require any accommodations in the supplementary application process, please contact [email protected] .    Please fill out the form to the best of your ability so we can get to know more about who you are and what you have learned from your experiences (rather than simply listing how many extracurricular activities you have participated in). Your responses will be read by University staff with a diverse set of backgrounds and an anti-discriminatory lens.

“Scarborough is a meeting place of peoples from around the world where we engage with local and global challenges and opportunities…embracing and promoting the enriching contributions that come from the diverse backgrounds, ways of knowing, ideas, perspectives, and experiences represented in our community.”    —Inspiring Inclusive Excellence: A Strategic Vision for the University of Toronto Scarborough (2020–2025)    Everyone has a purpose. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?    At the University of Toronto Scarborough, we welcome students with varied lived experiences and whose activities demonstrate learning and/or leadership potential beyond their academic records. We believe strongly that every applicant should be given an equitable opportunity to join our learning community.    This form is a space for you to tell us about your life, your interests, and your goals for attending U of T. The questions are designed to amplify your unique qualifications and contributions beyond your academic transcripts as we consider your application for admission.

We strive to make our processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations for applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require any accommodations in the supplementary application process, please contact [email protected] .    Please fill out the form to the best of your ability so we can get to know more about who you are and what you have learned from your experiences (rather than simply listing how many extracurricular activities you have participated in). Your responses will be read by University staff with a diverse set of backgrounds and an anti-discriminatory lens. 

Admission Interview

In addition to the SAF, an interview is required for admission to Co-op Management & International Business. Once your application and SAF have been reviewed, you may be invited to register for an interview. Submit your SAF as early as possible to ensure interview consideration.  

 “Scarborough is a meeting place of peoples from around the world where we engage with local and global challenges and opportunities…embracing and promoting the enriching contributions that come from the diverse backgrounds, ways of knowing, ideas, perspectives, and experiences represented in our community.”    —Inspiring Inclusive Excellence: A Strategic Vision for the University of Toronto Scarborough (2020–2025)    Everyone has a purpose. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?    At the University of Toronto Scarborough, we welcome students with varied lived experiences and whose activities demonstrate learning and/or leadership potential beyond their academic records. We believe strongly that every applicant should be given an equitable opportunity to join our learning community.    This form is a safe space for you to tell us about your life, your interests, and your goals for attending U of T. The questions are designed to amplify your unique qualifications and contributions beyond your academic transcripts as we consider your application for admission. We strive to make our processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations for applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require any accommodation in the supplementary application process, please contact [email protected] .    Please fill out the form to the best of your ability so we can get to know more about who you are and what you have learned from your experiences (rather than simply listing how many extracurricular activities you have participated in). Your responses will be read by University staff with a diverse set of backgrounds and an anti-discriminatory lens. 

The SAF for International Development Studies (co-op) will include sections about: 

Extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership potential and/or learning. 

Lived experiences. 

Why you have chosen to pursue International Development Studies and any experiences that sparked your interest. 

The IDS Co-op Admissions team utilizes the SAF to assess an applicant’s suitability for the program. We are looking for individuals who are curious about the world, passionate about social justice, willing to interrogate their own privilege and the systems we live in, and able to communicate their ideas with clear writing skills in the SAF. 

The Music Industry and Technology program has limited enrolment. Applicants will be evaluated on their academic performance and a Supplementary Application Form (SAF) that includes three primary criteria:

• Background and experiences in music.
• Goals and ambitions in music.
• Why you're interested in the Music Industry and Technology program.

In addition, the SAF provides an opportunity to submit links to musical work (via services like Soundcloud or YouTube).

The SAF for Paramedicine intends to capture the information about the applicant, including the following: 

Why you’re interested in Paramedicine as a career. 

Non-Academic Requirements

All students admitted to the Paramedicine program will need to meet the following requirements for the Centennial College portion of the program, which begins in second year. 

• Medical doctor's statement certifying a standard of health acceptable to both Centennial College and the clinical agencies, as outlined in the Ambulance Act. This includes full immunization and vaccination review which involves appointments with a Requisite Nurse, your family Doctor, lab work, follow-ups etc. Additional cost may be incurred by the student in order to meet this requirement. This is required during years two and three. It is advised that you begin this process during the summer, prior to your first semester at Centennial as it can take some time to get all of your immunizations up to date. 
• Class "G" driver's license; a class "F" license is highly recommended prior to third year. A class "F" license is required for employment with an ambulance service in Ontario. 
• Valid Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Health Care Provider course. BCLS Certification is an annual certification that must be valid for the duration of the school year (September 1 to May 1) of years two and three. 
• Standard First Aid certification. SFA certification is valid for three years and must be valid for the duration of the school year (September 1 to May 1) of years two and three. 
• Lifting Evaluation, with a partner, of up to a 210-pound patient using various Paramedic equipment. (Students are encouraged to contact Physical Education and Athletics at U of T Scarborough to use the facilities to improve their abilities. For a modest charge, a personal trainer can provide an assessment and an individualized training program, if that is desired.) If you require additional details regarding the lifting requirements prior to agreeing to this declaration, please contact Michael Thomas, Program Coordinator at [email protected] or 416-289-5000 ext. 8117.  The lifting requirements are as follows (in pairs) : Semester 1 at Centennial – 170 lbs, Semester 2 at Centennial – 190 lbs, and Semester 3 and 4 at Centennial – 210 lbs. 
• Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Search must be completed during the second and third year of the program. Clinical and field placement cannot be guaranteed to those with a criminal record. Information on how to obtain the background check will be provided upon acceptance of your application. Information on how to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Search will be provided prior to the start of year two. (Should be started prior to starting in September as the process can take more than 6 weeks.)
• Students enrolled in the Paramedicine program must be fitted with an N95 mask. In accordance with CSA Standards (CSA Z94.4-2011) people with beards are not able to be fitted for tight fitting respirators, including N95 masks. The tight-fitting respirators are not able to provide an effective seal along the wearer's face when they have a beard and are therefore not functional and cannot complete the requirements of the program.    

You must also be aware that under the provisions of the Ambulance Act , employment as a paramedic is prohibited to any individual who: 

• In the past year has received six or more demerit points on their driving record.
• Has had a driving license suspended in the previous two years.
• Has been prohibited from driving under the Criminal Code of Canada within the past three years.
• Has been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude for which they have not been pardoned. 

Missed Deadlines

Submit your SAF as soon as possible! We may still consider your SAF, pending space and the competitiveness of your application to the program to which you've applied. 

How to Complete Your SAF

• Set up your JOINid.  You will need to enable your JOINid before completing the SAF. Instructions are provided with your Acknowledgment of Application email from U of T. Note that the system may take 3-7   business days to process your information. Access to the SAF will be available starting in late October.
• Log in to the JOIN U of T website  and select the Application Status Check link . The password to access the SAF is the same password you used to access the JOIN U of T website.
• Answer all the questions on the SAF as specified.  You can work on your SAF over a few days and save your responses, however, once it is submitted you are not able to make any changes.
• The SAF must be completed only by the applicant, and you need to be honest with your responses.
• Wait for the confirmation page. After you successfully submit your SAF, a confirmation page will appear thanking you for completing the form. Please be patient and wait for the message to display – this message is the confirmation that you have submitted the form.

Need help? 

• If you're experiencing technical issues, try opening the SAF in a different browser (we recommend Firefox for the SAF). If problems persist, send us an email at [email protected] .
• If you can't see the SAF, ensure the program you applied for requires an SAF (refer to the list above) and/or wait about a week after applying to U of T Scarborough for us to process your application and prepare your SAF.

Contact Admissions & Student Recruitment

Visit the Health Advisories website for the latest vaccination and mask information and to Report a Case.

SJSU is Open and Operational

Campus will be open January 22–26. Visit our FAQ to learn more .

Supplemental Application for Transfer

Supplemental application requirement.

For each admission cycle, all applicants for transfer will be required to complete an SJSU-specific Supplemental Application including grades for all coursework completed to meet the requirements for admission for that term. For example:

• Spring 2024 applicants needed to complete the SJSU Supplemental Application including Summer 2023 grades earned and all work in progress for the Fall 2023 semester.
• Fall 2024 applicants will need to complete the SJSU Supplemental Application including Fall 2023 grades earned and all work in progress for the Spring 2024 semester.

Because SJSU is impacted in every major, we need applicants to provide details and verify information about their academic records that is specific to SJSU’s admission process. SJSU will not consider new or changed information entered in your Cal State Apply application after it was submitted during the initial filing period.

We plan to assign the supplemental application in early January 2024 for the Fall 2024 term. Students will have until January 25, 2024 to complete and submit the application. Any transfer applicant who wishes to be considered for admission to SJSU must complete and submit the supplemental application by the deadline posted to their MySJSU "To Do List".

Applicants who do not complete the SJSU-specific Supplemental Application by the deadline will have their application for admission withdrawn and they will have to apply to the next available term.

For more information about the way that this information will be considered for admission and a list of major-specific coursework, please see the Program Specific Supplemental Coursework section.

Questions about the supplemental application can be answered by consulting our help guide .

Undergraduate Programs

Select your Academic Level

High School Student

The following programs are available to high school students seeking admission to Beedie School of Business:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA Major)

College / University Student

The following programs are available to students interested in transferring from a different College or University:

SFU Student

The following programs are available to current Beedie undergraduate students or SFU students in a faculty other than business:

BBA Joint Major

Dual Degree with Mechatronics

Business Minor

Business Certificates

Graduate Programs

Full-Time MBA

Early Career MBA

MSc Finance

Part-Time MBA

Management of Technology (MOT) MBA

Executive MBA

Graduate Diploma in Business Administration

Invention to Innovation

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Undergraduate BBA Major Admission Requirements Supplemental Application

Leader, changemaker, big picture thinker

Bachelor of business administration, supplemental application - college / university transfer.

Your grades matter, but so do your experiences, achievements, personality and communication skills. We want to learn more about you and how your experiences and achievements, in combination with your academics, have prepared you for new and exciting challenges at the Beedie School of Business.

The Supplemental Application is your chance to share with us a complete picture of who you are, and why an SFU Beedie education is right for you. The following information will help guide you through the supplemental process and how to best prepare.

Note: There is a Supplemental Application Fee of $89.63 CAD, separate from the SFU Application Fee.

What is Assessed on the Supplemental Application?

The online, supplemental application will include:

• A written, short answer response that reveals more about who you are and demonstrates your communication skills
• A place to describe your extra-curricular activities, from athletics to artistic pursuits, to volunteer, work and/or community involvement in the last 4 years 
• Two video interview questions, with unlimited opportunities to practice
• Two references, who know you well and can speak to your involvement (one referee must be academic in nature) 
• A place for you to share something which does not fit into the above categories 

Race, ethnicity, religion, sex, age and all other protected grounds as defined by section 8 of the B.C. Human Rights Code are excluded from the evaluation.

Multiple qualified assessors, who are part of SFU Beedie’s Supplemental Evaluation Committee, read each application. Assessors evaluate applications blind (i.e. without seeing names, contact information, grades, etc.) and base their assessment on a set rubric. Once assessed, your Supplemental Score is combined with your Academic Performance to produce your overall ranking.

Applicants with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need application accommodations are encouraged to contact the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible, and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

What does a strong Application Include?

Strong Academic Performance

While we want to learn more about you through the Supplemental Application, your marks still matter. The required courses that you complete for admission demonstrate your preparedness in the field of Business through both business fundamental and corresponding, preparatory courses. 

If your current CGPA and/or Business Admission GPA includes courses that are in-progress, make sure to keep your grades up. We review all offers of admission upon receipt of final grades to ensure you have satisfied the admission requirements. 

Activities and Achievements

Your application should demonstrate experience(s) in one or more of the following areas:

• Arts (performing, visual, music, and/or written)
• Community leadership and/or involvement
• Entrepreneurship
• Work experience
• Other areas

Strong Communication Skills

As part of SFU Beedie's undergraduate learning goals, students should develop strong communication skills (oral, listening and written). Make sure to practice and refine these skills through your required courses, such as English, Philosophy or World Literature, as well as through any additional support services that your institution may offer, such as interview support (ex. Career Services), public speaking workshops (ex. Toastmasters), and writing strategy support. During your application, you will be asked to demonstrate your communication skills both orally and in writing.

You will need to provide contact information for two referees (i.e. people who provide a reference). Make sure to pick referees who can comment about the experiences that you list in your application, including your academics, extra-curricular activities, work and personal achievements, as well as personal qualities.

NOTE : One reference must be academic in-nature, from an instructor at your college or university.

How can I best prepare for the Application?

Here are some tips to help you prepare for the Supplemental Application:

• Start thinking about your application now, including who will provide your reference(s). Reach out to your references early; don’t wait until the last minute to ask someone.
• Review the section above on what makes a strong application. Spend time reflecting on how your experiences – both challenges and achievements - have helped prepare you for the Beedie School of Business.
• Read through the whole application once you have access.
• Be authentic. Ensure you are presenting your unique voice and individual story. We want to learn about you, not someone you think we want to learn about.
• Save your written responses in a word processor (ex. Microsoft Word) as you work. While you can save responses in the application itself, the form will close after 20-minutes of inactivity and any unsaved information will be lost.
• Accuracy counts. Make sure to review all information provided, as SFU Beedie will verify information. We take any falsification of information and/or plagiarism very seriously.
• Plan ahead and be prepared for any logistical considerations, such as applying well-before the deadline to minimize the risk of missing it, having a method of payment ready for the application fee, and providing information to your references ahead of time.
• Applicants will be required to complete short answer video interview questions. To prepare we recommend that you not only take advantage of completing the practice interviews* embedded in the application, but also SFU's resources (Interview feedback via Career Services , online practice via WIL's InterviewPrep ) in order to gain feedback and develop your interview skills ahead of time. Doing so isn't just a benefit for preparing for your application but future job opportunities as well.

*Note: You can complete the practice interviews as many times as you like to get acquainted with the system and no one will be able to see your practice videos, except you.

Video Interview Submission Details

• Once you're ready to begin your official interview, you will need to select the "Start Interview" button.
• One video interview question will be asked and then the text will be displayed on the screen for about 60 seconds . A countdown clock will appear.
• Once the countdown clock has reached 0 (zero), your webcam and mic will turn on and you will have 90 seconds to verbally respond to the question. Just like a real in-person interview, you will only have one chance to respond to the question.
• You can choose to end your response at any time during the 90 second recording time.
• You will then repeat this process for the second question.
• When the interview is complete, you will return to the Supplemental Application and see a green check mark next to the Video Interview section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was I invited to complete the supplemental application?

Summer 2023 to Summer 2024 Applicants : If you received an email invitation from SFU Admissions requesting you to complete the Supplemental Application, it means that your Business Admission GPA on the required courses fell between 2.80 and 3.29. Consequently, we want to learn more about you and the experiences and achievements, in combination with your academics, which have prepared you for new and exciting challenges at SFU Beedie.

Fall 2024 Applicants, onwards : Starting for Fall 2024 admission, all transfer students are required to complete the Supplemental Application for admission to the BBA program.

Do I have to complete the supplemental application?

Summer 2023 to Summer 2024 Applicants : If you are invited to complete the Supplemental Application and choose not to do so,  your application will be cancelled unless you notify SFU Beedie of meeting the GPA-only requirements at the term of the term. You can contact the SFU Beedie Admissions Team at  [email protected] to request for a re-evaluation.

Fall 2024 Applicants, onwards : The Supplemental Application is required for admission consideration. If you do not complete the Supplemental Application, your application will be cancelled and you will be evaluated for your alternate choice program, if you indicated one. 

I think I should have received an invitation, but do not see it in my inbox; OR I lost my invitation. What should I do?

Please make sure to check your email accounts’  spam  and/or  junk mail  folders in case it has been automatically filed there. This is particularly common if you are using or forwarding mail to Hotmail, Live, or Outlook.

NOTE : If you are unsure or you lost your invitation, please contact  SFU Admissions . Please make sure to provide your 9-digit SFU Applicant/Student Number.

What browser is recommended for accessing and completing the application?

Using Firefox or Chrome is recommended.

Can I log in and out of the form and save my responses?

You will have the ability to go into the application form as many times as you like before the deadline. You can also save your responses directly within the application. While you can save responses in the application itself, it is recommended that you draft responses in a word processor (ex. Microsoft Word) as the form will close after 20 minutes of inactivity and any unsaved information will be lost.

Can I edit my responses once I submit my application?

Once you submit your completed application, you will not be able to make edits. Be sure to double-check your application before submitting the application form.

How do I complete the application?

In order to complete the application you need to access the application through the link provided in the email invitation you received from SFU Beedie. Follow the instructions outlined in the email.

Complete each section of the application, including successful payment of the application fee. When all sections of the application are marked with a green checkmark you will be able to click the “submit” button.

*IMPORTANT:  You will need both your 9-digit SFU Application/Student Number and the email address you used to apply to SFU in order to access the application.

How do I know my form has been successfully submitted?

You will know that you have successfully submitted the Supplemental Application when the green bar appears at the top of your application with the successful submission message. You will also receive a confirmation email.

How soon can I expect to know the outcome of my application?

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis; however, admission decisions will be released shortly following the deadline to submit the Supplemental Application.

What do I do if my application payment was not successful?

You can try again. Log back into the system and either use:

• the same credit card, if you believe you previously entered details incorrectly
• a different credit card
• or, a pre-paid credit gift card (ex. VISA, Mastercard)*

*Currently outside of Canada? Make sure that your pre-paid card can be used for Canadian transaction by checking the details of the card's terms and agreement.

What do I do if I don’t have a credit card?

You can purchase a pre-paid credit gift card (ex. VISA, Mastercard) that would allow you to cover the application fee in Canadian dollars, as well as any fees that might be associated with using the card itself.

*Living outside of Canada? Make sure that your pre-paid card can be used for Canadian transactions by checking the details of the card’s terms and agreement.

What do I do if I am denied admission to the Beedie School of Business?

Reflect on why you may have been denied:

• Are you missing any of the required courses?
• Did you miss or decide not to complete the supplemental application?
• Do you have limited experiences, or did not articulate them?

Once you have reviewed your application and the questions above, think about whether or not you can improve on elements of your application. If yes, and you are eligible for admission to another SFU Faculty other than SFU Beedie (your 2 nd  choice program), you can apply to SFU Beedie again through an Internal Transfer

Review the requirements for an  Internal Transfer  and make sure to speak with an SFU Beedie Undergraduate Advisor about next steps.*

*NOTE: Should you apply again, you will be asked to explain what has changed since you last applied.

If I am not admitted to SFU Beedie School of Business will my fee be refunded?

We cannot refund the application fee as the work required to assess your application has already been completed.

Join us for a 45-minute webinar to learn about our program and admission requirements, ask questions, and decide if SFU Beedie is right for you.

You can also connect with a recruiter over email or Zoom.

Have questions?

Connect with our academic advising team.

Website Page: Academic Advising

Email: [email protected]

Download Brochure | Read in Browser

Connect with Us

Learn more about the program and get in touch with our recruitment and admissions team.

I want to work for companies that don’t just make a profit, but try to make a positive impact in the world, and of course, are in fashion.

BBA Alumnus

I'm working on starting EDGE SFU to support students who might not have the same opportunities as other students. The goal is to help to provide financial support, scholarships, and job postings. It’s a lot of work getting this club off the ground, but I enjoy helping other students.

Avedeep Nijjar

BBA Candidate

MIS & Finance

A lot of students don’t follow a traditional path through university, and that’s ok.

The most important thing is to get involved. It’s up to you to make this as enriching as possible, and all you have to do is raise your hand to volunteer or participate in events and clubs.

Irene Chang

The flexibility SFU Beedie offers enabled me to combine my interests in my joint major in international business and economics, but also offered so much through experiential learning and opportunities to get involved. There is so much that the time passes very quickly, so it’s important to make the most of it while you can.

Sasha Vukovic

International Business

I know that whatever I do, the education I gained from my SFU Beedie experience will help me to bring about change.

Alain Ndayishimiye

Human Resources Management

You will never know unless you try. There are always going to be opportunities to add value – it's just a matter of how you view it. Whether it is signing up for a case competition, or events and information sessions, or reaching out to senior students to ask them about their experiences, make the most of it and get involved.

Tommy Goana

Business Honours Candidate

Marketing, MIS, Certificate in Business Analytics & Decision Making, and Charles Chang Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

When I took some classes at SFU's Beedie School of Business, I realized how much I loved the business aspect of things

Ben Hellner

Management Information Systems

I felt really supported at SFU Beedie and because of that, I was able to accomplish so much.

SFU Beedie gave me an opportunity to shape my professional goals and define my core values.

Natasha Tsoy

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Design and business come hand in hand in industry, and my SFU Beedie education gave me a unique way of thinking.

Taylor Ward

Joint Program

HR Management

Marketing & MIS

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Joint Major

Supplementary form

General instructions.

This supplementary form provides you with an opportunity to tell us more about yourself, your academic history and why you are interested in joining the programs you have selected. Submit it as early as possible so that we may consider it during the assessment of your application. If it’s received after an admission decision has been made, it may not be considered.

We recommend that you keep these instructions open and refer to them while completing your supplementary form.

Things to keep in mind: 

• Submit a supplementary form for each program you have applied to.
• You can’t revise or re-submit your supplementary form once submitted.
• You can save a copy of your supplementary form after you have submitted it. Please note that the form will close and unsaved information will be lost after 60 minutes of inactivity.
• Save your form while completing it to ensure that no information is lost. 
• Click the save button at the bottom of the form to save it within your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account. 
• You may return to your form at any time prior to submitting it.

Tip: If you've applied to more than one TMU program, type your responses into a word processor (e.g. Microsoft Word) then copy and paste similar responses to each supplementary form.

Applying for readmission to a TMU undergraduate degree program

Complete all sections of the form, in particular the section regarding your non-academic history. You must outline your activities since you were last enrolled at TMU and submit updated academic transcripts, as applicable.

Providing confidential information

If you have confidential information you’d like us to consider and you want to provide supporting documentation, we encourage you to also submit a special consideration form . This may include information about circumstances that have negatively impacted your previous grades.

Admission requirements

Review the admission requirements for your program by visiting the program page .

Subject prerequisites are required for all programs. Unless otherwise noted, grades in prerequisite subjects are determined on the basis of competition (normally in the range of 65-75% or higher). You must indicate your subject prerequisites and grades in the chart provided.

Sample chart and definitions

The following is a completed sample of this section of the supplementary form:

Tell us which courses you’ve completed/intend to complete to meet the subject prerequisite requirements. If you’ve repeated a course, please only indicate the course once and include the highest grade achieved.

Section definitions

• Subject prerequisite requirements: The subject prerequisite requirements for your program are included in the section below on this page. If there is more than one subject required, continue to add rows in your form.
• Course code: The course code should appear on your academic transcripts/grade reports. If no course code exists, leave this column blank.
• School/Institution: If your institution doesn’t appear when you click the arrow (drop down), you must amend/update your application before completing the rest of the form. Stop, save, close the form and amend your application as needed. If you applied with an OUAC application, amend via the OUAC  (external link, opens in new window)  . If you applied with a TMU application form, you must complete a TMU change form . It may take four to five business days for your amendment to be reflected on your supplementary form.
• Course completion date (approximate): Indicate the approximate date that you completed the course or the date that you expect to complete the course.
• Interim/mid-year grade: Indicate the interim/mid-year grade if the course is in progress (alpha or numeric). If your grade is not known, not yet achieved or you have a final grade, indicate NG. This column can’t remain blank.
• Final grade: Indicate the final grade, if achieved (alpha or numeric). If your grade isn’t known or not yet achieved, indicate NG. This column can’t remain blank.

Prerequisite subject requirements

Review the undergraduate program web page for specific requirements and levels, as well as non-academic requirements (where applicable).

Self-reported grades

• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories  
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon 

Do not use this section if you are a student in Quebec.

Please continue to make arrangements for the submission of your transcripts. Visit our  document submission  page for information about required documents.

You must be enrolled in admission requirements, or have them completed or in progress at the time of application. 

TMU doesn’t guarantee that courses listed in this section (or any other section of this form) will be used to meet admission requirements. TMU reserves the right to select courses for admission consideration and deny applications where courses are not completed by noted deadline dates.

All documents are routinely verified. All statements on or related to your application must be correct and complete. The information in this section will be considered unofficial. TMU reserves the right to require official documents at any time during the application/admission process, and to cancel an application, admission or enrolment if discrepancies are found between unofficial and official documents.

Sample charts and definitions

The following is a sample of this section of the supplementary form:

Grade 11 course enrolment and results

Grade 12 course enrolment and results.

Indicate any/all Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in the “Course name” column.

• School/Institution : Indicate the name of the school/institution where you completed/are completing the course.
• Course code:  The course code should appear on your academic transcripts/grade reports. If no course code exists, leave this column blank.
• Course name : Indicate the official name of the course.
• Course completion date (approximate):  Indicate the approximate date that you completed the course or the date that you expect to complete the course.
• Interim mid-year grade: Please indicate  all  Grade 11 and 12 interim/mid-year grades as they'll appear on your transcript (alpha or numeric). Don't omit any information, including failed grades/attempts. If your grade isn't known, not yet achieved or you have a final grade, you may leave this column blank .
• Final grade: Please indicate  all  Grade 11 and 12 final grades as they will appear on your transcript (alpha or numeric). Don't omit any information, including failed grades/attempts. If your grade isn't known or not yet achieved, you may leave this column blank.

Please remember to indicate your eligibility to graduate!

International Baccalaureate studies

Please indicate if you have completed or intend to complete an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. This will help us in our assessment of your application, as interim/mid-year and final transcripts often don’t make this clear. Please note that an IB Diploma isn’t a requirement for admission.

Academic update

This section isn't required if you see and complete a section of the supplementary form called "self-reported grades."

This section informs us of any courses you’re currently enrolled in or plan to enrol in before the academic term you’ve applied to. This will help to ensure that we have complete information when reviewing your qualifications. If you're planning to attend summer school in order to meet admission requirements, you must submit a request. Please visit the  summer school extensions  page.

• Course name : Indicate the official name of the course.
• School/Institution and location : Indicate the name of the school/institution where you're completing the course as well as the city and country where the school/institution is located.
• Course start date and expected completion date: Indicate the approximate date that you started the course/intend to start the course and the date that you expect to complete the course.
• Date transcript will be submitted: Indicate the approximate date that TMU will receive a transcript showing a final grade in the course.

Non-academic history

List all non-academic activities from the end of secondary school to the present (e.g. employment, volunteer work, travel, etc.). If you're a previous TMU student, include an outline of your activities since you last enrolled at TMU and submit updated academic transcripts, as applicable.