How to Write a Kick-Ass Supplemental Essay That Will Make Admissions Say ’Wow!’

It’s mid-August, and college application deadlines are fast approaching. So, get ready for more 'college stuff' as we dive into how to write kick-ass supplemental essays that will make you stand out to admissions! In today’s world, most schools require at least two to three different supplements with their application, and highly selective schools often ask for even more. Join Cathy and Meredith as they share their insights on all things college supplements, including why colleges ask for them and why you need to take them seriously. They’ll explore different themes and templates, discuss how supplements can reveal what a college truly values, and guide listeners through a few key essay questions. Be sure to tune in for all this and more! And remember, make sure your kids don’t phone it in because admissions officers can tell!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:00] College applications are due any minute, have you turned on the Common App?
• [0:01:30] What today’s episode is all about.
• [0:02:15] Our views on supplements: the feelings and thoughts behind them.
• [0:07:28] Using supplements to discourage applications. 
• [0:08:00] Why colleges are asking for supplements and why they have to be taken seriously.
• [0:09:25] Why you need to have a nice, small, tight list of potential colleges.
• [0:10:35] A quick look at the book Lifting the Veil of Enrollment Management.
• [0:11:44] The themes often seen in the template of college supplement requests.
• [0:13:28] How supplements can reveal what a college cares about (do your research!)
• [0:15:25] Biggest mistakes we’ve seen in the college essay-prompt format.
• [0:16:30] The importance of belonging to a community.
• [0:19:00] We talk about a certain trend and “haze of skepticism” around adolescents that doesn’t seem to play well in a community.
• [0:21:40] An asterisk for those who don’t know what they want to major in.
• [0:23:00] Identity and the challenges with this essay.
• [0:26:30] Love yourself for who you are and show up as your authentic self.
• [0:27:30] The hard parts of the social issue essay.
• [0:28:30] A great place for parents to model and open up conversations.
• [0:31:20] Why Meredith doesn’t necessarily like the social question.
• [0:32:20] The adolescents of today versus those in the past.
• [0:34:00] The roommate letter.
• [0:35:15] The boom in popularity for the one-liners.
• [0:38:00] What not to do in the favorite quote section.
• [0:39:11] The net takeaways from our thoughts on college supplements.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Common App

Lifting the Veil on Enrollment Management: How a Powerful Industry is Limiting Social Mobility in American Higher Education

The Daily Pnut

Dear Kitten

Village Coaches Free Webinars

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram