Colleges Without Supplemental Essays 2023

Navigating the college application process can often feel like maneuvering through a maze of requirements, deadlines, and essays. Among the most daunting tasks can be the slew of supplemental essays many colleges and universities require. For many students, this makes the admissions process feel overwhelming, especially when applying to multiple schools.

What if there were some schools that streamlined the college application process? Well, good news—there are plenty of colleges and universities that don’t require ANY supplemental essays.

A WORD OF CAUTION

TTA Top Tip: Without supplemental essays, your Common App main essay MUST make an impression on admissions officers, highlighting what YOU will bring to THEIR community. Grades and scores remain the gatekeeper but, once you’ve overcome that hurdle, be sure to knock their socks off with your main essay, which should focus on your intellectual curiosity and unique contributions to your community.

Rest assured, there are plenty of selective colleges and universities that don’t require supplemental essays. We’ve compiled a sample of these liberal arts colleges and larger universities below.

SAMPLE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

• Albion College (application essay – recommended, not required)   
• Allegheny College  
• Bates College
• Beloit College
• Coe College (personal essay optional for students who meet Coe’s minimum academic standards)
• Colby College
• College of the Holy Cross
• Connecticut College 
• Denison University
• DePauw University 
• Dickinson University
• Drew University 
• Farleigh Dickinson (essays are optional, but welcome)
• Franklin and Marshall College
• Furman University
• Gettysburg College 
• Goucher College
• Grinnell College
• Hamilton College
• Hanover College (application essay – optional)
• Hollins University
• Hope College
• Juniata College
• Kent State
• Kenyon College
• Middlebury College
• Muhlenberg College
• New College of Florida
• Oberlin College
• Ripon College (optional personal statement)
• Rhodes College
• Sewanee—University of the South
• Siena College 
• Skidmore College
• St. John’s University (Personal Essay- recommended, Why essay for Pharmacy program)
• St. Lawrence University
• Susquehanna University 
• Thomas Aquinas College
• Ursinus College (optional short response)
• Wesleyan University 
• Whitman College
• Williams College (option to share academic paper 3-5 pages)

SAMPLE UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

• Case Western Reserve University 
• Clemson University
• DePaul University
• Drexel University 
• Fordham University (optional personal essays)
• Miami University—Oxford
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (Albert Dorman Honors College has an essay requirement)
• Northeastern University
• Ohio State University  (Honors, Scholars, Morrill Scholarship Program and some majors have additional essay requirements)
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology (Accelerated Medicine program has an additional writing question)
• SUNY Binghamton University 
• SUNY Buffalo 
• Temple University (optional essay)
• Tulane University (optional supplemental essays)
• University of Alabama
• University of Arkansas
• University of Colorado -Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dayton 
• University of Delaware 
• University of Denver
• University of Iowa (personal statement required if not submitting test scores)
• University of Minnesota 
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln (personal statement required to be considered for leadership and diversity scholarships)
• University of New Hampshire 
• University of the Pacific
• University of Pittsburgh (personal statement required to be considered for scholarships, essay required for Pitt Honors admission)
• University of St. Thomas (essays recommended, but not required)
• University of Vermont (optional essay questions recommended, but not required)