With many COVID-fallout related test-optional policies remaining in place for the current application cycle, as suspected, applications will be up and the early round pools will likely be flooded (again).
University of Virginia is one such school that retained their test-optional policy for Fall 2022 and Fall 2023. According to UVA’s Associate Dean of Admissions, Jeannine Lalonde, application numbers for their early round are up yet again. For early decision 2021, UVA received over 3,400 applications and over 31,000 for early action. Keep in mind, these are ‘submitted’ applications, not necessarily complete applications though Lalonde noted that UVA’s early round last year, brought in 2,900 completed applications for ED and 29,000 for EA.
While UVA is test optional, they do still require supplemental essays. Writing college essays is a feat unto itself, never mind writing college essays that actually get you accepted! Imagine if UVA didn’t require supplemental essays? The number of applicants would likely be even higher.
NO SUPPLEMENTS. WHY?
Not many students apply to only one school and supplemental essays can add up quickly. Though there are ways to combat the anxiety that comes with having to write 10-15 supplemental essays (our Essay Guidance Program, for instance), one of the simplest might be understanding which schools DON’T even require them!
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But first, why would a school waive supplemental essays?
One reason: Eliminating supplemental essays is a simple way for a college to further boost their application numbers. It’s easy to see why a student who hasn’t decided on their top choice school would apply to a college with no supplemental essays – there’s no additional writing work involved! This can result in the school having a much deeper and more diverse pool of applicants to choose from, but also pushes their numbers up higher so they can deny more and have a lower acceptance rate.
If you’re looking for a college that doesn’t require any supplemental essays, you won’t have to look far! Check out this sample of colleges and universities that do not require any additional supplemental essays in this admissions cycle.
2021-22 SAMPLE LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOLS WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS
- Albion College (application essay – recommended, not required)
- Allegheny College
- Beloit College
- Coe College (personal essay optional for students who meet Coe’s minimum academic standards)
- Colby College
- Connecticut College
- DePauw University
- Drew University
- Farleigh Dickinson
- Furman University
- Gettysburg College
- Goucher College
- Grinnell College
- Hanover College (application essay – optional)
- Hollins University
- Hope College
- Juniata College
- Kent State
- Kenyon College
- Middlebury College
- Muhlenberg College
- Ripon College (optional personal statement)
- Sewanee—University of the South
- Siena College
- Skidmore College
- Spelman College (additional essay for Honors program)
- St. John’s University (Personal Essay- recommended, Why essay for Pharmacy program)
SAMPLE UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS
- Case Western Reserve University
- Clemson University
- DePaul University
- Drexel University (essay for Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and custom-designed majors)
- 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)
- Stony Brook University (Honors College, University Scholars, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine have additional essay requirements)
- SUNY Binghamton University
- SUNY Buffalo
- 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 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)
HELP IS ONE CLICK AWAY
Even with the November 1 deadline behind us, we realize many students still have supplemental essays to write. Top Tier Admissions is here to help you craft a distinctive, compelling, and uniquely you essay. From brainstorming to the writing process to pushing through writer’s block, we can make sure your essay will stand out among the crowd. And, if you are deferred or declined from your early school, we’ve got your back. For a limited number of students, we will roll up our sleeves, brew some strong coffee, and dig in with you to revamp your materials for a stronger shot at the regular round.
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