american university of paris supplemental essays

THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS

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American University Supplemental Essay 2024-25 – Prompt and Advice

July 17, 2024

Back in the ‘90s, American University had an acceptance rate of nearly 80%. In recent years, the acceptance rate has fallen as low as 26% and is typically under 40%. Test-optional for over a decade, this now highly selective university in Washington, D.C. utilizes a truly holistic method of assessing candidates, which means that the American University supplemental essay now plays a key role for AU applicants.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into American U? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into American University: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Given this increasing level of selectivity, the American University supplemental essay offers applicants a crucial opportunity to showcase their writing ability by generating a detail-rich essay that will stand out to an admissions officer.

2024-2025 American University Supplemental Essay Question

American University students identify as changemakers and describe themselves as passionate. Describe a belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic about which you’re excited. (250 words)

Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or 19th-century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas or issues that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed?

Moreover, you’ll want to share the manner in which you have pursued your hobby, idea, issue, or topic of choice. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time, consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, or volunteering at a community agency, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you engage with your passions. The admissions reader should emerge from reading this essay with the sense that you are a sincerely curious young person with a strong drive.

Finally, we’d recommend thinking specifically about how you’d like to continue pursuing your belief, hobby, idea, issue, or topic at American University in particular. As such, you’ll want to do some school-specific research.

American University Supplemental Essay (Continued) 

Below are some examples of unique facts about American University that may help you as you brainstorm the “American-specific” part of your response:

• There are more than 170 academic programs (80 bachelor’s degree programs) at American University.
• 150+  student organizations exist on campus. Talk about the ones you would like to join.
• AU offers funding opportunities for undergraduate research . Talk about a research idea that you’d like to pursue while at AU.
• AU runs its own study abroad programs in Brussels, Nairobi, and Madrid.
• More than half of all undergrads take a semester abroad.
• 91% of American U grads participated in at least one internship. What’s your dream internship?
• The AU radio station WAMU reaches an astounding 900,000 listeners every week.
• AU was the first U.S. university to become carbon neutral in 2020.

Of course, these are just few of the countless number of possible features that could be part of a successful essay.

Overall, think about the following as you write this section:

• How will you become an active, contributing member of the student body?
• How will your past/current endeavors carry over onto AU’s campus?
• Why is AU is the perfect fit for you and why you are the perfect fit for AU?
• What specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities, internship/externship programs, study abroad programs, student-run organizations, etc (as in the examples above) would you take advantage of?

How important is the American University supplemental essay?

AU only considers three factors to be “very important” to their applicant evaluation process. These are: the rigor of one’s coursework, GPA earned, and demonstrated interest. In the second tier of “important” factors are: essays, recommendations, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work. Clearly, essays—both the main Common App essay and the supplemental prompt—are among the most significant factors in this holistic process.

Furthermore, demonstrated interest is even more important than essays, and one way you can communicate your interest in American is by writing a thoughtful, American-specific supplemental response.

American University Supplemental Essay – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your American University supplemental essay, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

On the hunt for additional essay-writing resources? Check out the following blogs:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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Olympics 2024:

Studying part-time at aup.

The American University of Paris offers the possibility of attending classes as a part-time student without pursuing a degree in over 100 undergraduate courses on a space-available basis. You can choose to either take a class for academic credit or audit a class not for academic credit.  You will not be able to change between the two options after registration. 

For academic credit

You may register for up to 11 credits per semester. If you register for more credits, you’re considered a degree-seeking student. Like all other AUP students taking courses for credit, you’re expected to attend class regularly, complete all assigned reading and written work, and take examinations. Grades will be reflected on University issued transcripts. Tuition for  2023-2024 is €1,078 per credit. For example, a 4-credit course would cost €4,312.

Not for academic credit

You may audit classes if you are not looking to earn academic credit. Auditors may also register for up to 11 credits per semester. Auditors may complete course assignments and take exams, but correcting their work is left to the discretion of the individual professor. The auditor rate for 2023-2024 is €539 per credit. For example, a 4-credit course would cost €2,156.

How to apply for part-time studies

All students applying for part-time studies must have successfully completed secondary education and have fulfilled any prerequisites for the courses they choose at AUP. To apply, please submit the following documents:

• Online application form . Please complete an online part-time application on the  AUP application portal .

Personal statements

• Transcripts . In your application, you’ll be prompted to provide unofficial transcripts from the academic institution most recently attended.
• Extracurricular activities and work experience

Two letters of recommendation

• English-language test . Non-native English speakers who wish to take courses for credit must submit one of the following standardized English tests (results no more than two years old):  TOEFL  iBT (minimum 88),  IELTS  Academic Option (minimum 6.5), TOEIC Listening & Reading (minimum 810) or the  Cambridge English Exam  (minimum B2 First, grade B or 176).

We ask that you include a personal statement as part of your application; you can upload your essay as part of your online application.

In approximately 500 words, in English, please answer one of the following essay questions:

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

In addition to the essay above, in under 300 words, answer the following:

• What attracts you the most about coming to The American University of Paris and how do you believe the experience of living and studying in Paris will change you?

Extracurricular activities & work experience

Using the  AUP Application Portal  you may submit your list of activities and work experience in .pdf format.

Online forms for your recommenders (teachers or professors) are provided in the  AUP Application Portal .

Application deadlines

We review completed applications in two rounds during the year. You’re welcome to apply at any time, but admissions decisions will only be given after the first round.

Fall Admission

Spring Admission

What to do once you’re admitted

When you receive your admission decision, you will be given instructions to confirm your attendance and select your courses. Part-time course registration will take place after pre-registration closes for other cohorts, per the academic calendar.

Non-EU Students who plan to enter France in order to study at AUP under a part-time status, are required to:

• meet with their local French Consulate in order to let them know about their status and their plans once in France;
• send their AUP Admission Counselor written feedback by email in order to clearly explain what they have been told by the French Consulate Visa Dept.

We regret to inform part-time applicants that we cannot assist with visa formalities.

Should you need to cancel, withdraw or change your status after you have registered and made payment, please review our cancellation deadlines  and contact the Registrar’s Office  in writing.

Please note that part-time students are not eligible for AUP financial aid.

Get in touch

We look forward to receiving your application. Please don’t hesitate to  request additional information  about our part-time studies program.

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Application Process

AUP’s graduate programs welcome applications from motivated, high-caliber individuals who feel they will thrive in AUP’s international and dynamic environment. When assessing applications, we take a holistic approach to identifying the next cohort of students, considering education, experience and general fit with AUP values and curriculum.

Our application process is simple and straightforward: students submit their information, send us their supporting documents, and receive their admission decision within three weeks. Once accepted, students will receive comprehensive information on the AUP Status Page . These resources will help each student prepare for AUP and arrival in France. 

We review completed applications in rounds throughout the year. We encourage you to apply early: priority for admission and financial aid is given to those who apply in the earlier rounds. See full deadline details below.

Step 1: Create Account

You can start your application process by creating an account on AUP’s Application Portal . You will be able to return to this page to finish and review your application prior to submission as often as you like. 

Step 2: Complete Form & Upload Documents

Online Form

Each graduate program has its own application via the AUP Application Portal. You may only apply to one program. 

The form will ask you to complete various details including contact details, background information and educational history. Your application will also require several supporting documents which can be uploaded directly in your online application in .pdf or .doc formats.

Transcripts

We require official transcripts covering all previous university coursework, including confirmation of an awarded bachelor’s degree or equivalent.  All official documents must be submitted in English or French, or with a certified translation into one of these two languages. We recommend your transcripts demonstrate a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (or equivalent). 

Personal Statement

Applicants are required to submit a 500-word personal statement describing their reasons for applying to the program of their choice, drawing on relevant past undergraduate research or professional experience, as well as your career objectives.  

Program Specific Items

Standardized tests, such as the GRE , GMAT , or LSAT are required for admission to some of the graduate programs at The American University of Paris and are listed below.  Exemptions from this requirement are given to students from non-American universities and institutions, applicants with an M.A. degree, and mid-career applicants with a minimum of five years of professional experience following graduation. 

Global Communications

• Standardized Test: GRE Optional.

Human Rights and Data Science

• Essay: Describe an hypothetical academic project that you could undertake during your master studies. Elaborate on how this project integrates data science and human rights protection aspects. Explain why you are interested in the project and whether you think it would contribute to your future academic or career plans, or it would simply address a theme you are curious to explore. Note that this is a purely hypothetical exercise, you will not be expected to work on the project during the program.

International Affairs

• Standardized Test: GRE Required.
• Thesis Proposal: Please outline (500-word maximum) a proposed research topic including at least five peer-reviewed sources that inform your choice, as well as a suggested framework for your field research. A clear analytical argument supporting your working hypothesis is required.

Diplomacy and International Law

• Standardized Test: GRE or LSAT required.
• Essay: In a concise 1000-word essay, please provide us with an example of when you might have been called upon to ‘think outside of the box’ in your academic, professional or personal life. We are particularly interested in why this example was important to you.

International Management

• Standardized Test: GRE or GMAT recommended.
• Essay: In 500-words or less, describe your personal and professional objectives and how you anticipate that the International Management program at AUP will help you to achieve these objectives.
• Writing Sample: Submit a short assignment or professional writing sample of 500-words or less that shows work that you are particularly proud of or that speaks to your beliefs or values in some way.

Strategic Brand Management

CV / Resume

Applicants should submit a C.V. or resumé including university and/or employment history; community involvement; professional, and/or university extracurricular activities; and recognitions and achievements. 

Letters of Recommendation

We require two letters of recommendation from individuals well-qualified to provide us with first-hand knowledge about your potential for graduate study, with at least one letter from a university professor if you graduated in the last five years. 

Veteran & Military Applicants: One of your letters of recommendation should ideally come from a Commanding Officer.

When you have entered the contact details for your recommenders to your application, AUP will approach them for their recommendation.  

Students must demonstrate sufficient fluency in English. If English is not your first language, we require you to submit results less than two years old from one of the following tests: 

• TOEFL - Internet Based Test (ibT) minimum score: 101. To have your results sent directly to The American University of Paris, use our institutional code 0866.
• Cambridge English - Advanced, or Proficiency level, minimum score: 185.
• TOEIC - Listening and Reading, minimum score 910. To have your results sent directly to The American University of Paris, use our institutional code 0866.
• IELTS - Academic Option, minimum score 7.0.  

The English language test requirement is waived if you meet one of the following criteria: 

• You have been living in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States for at least two consecutive years and have recently studied in an all-English curriculum.
• You have studied for at least four years in an all-English curriculum in any other country, although we continue to reserve the right to request English test results from any applicant.

We reserve the right to request English test results from any applicant.

Step 3: Submit & Pay 

When you have completed your application, you will be asked to review the application and confirm that you are satisfied with the application before final submission. There is a non-refundable €75 processing fee to be paid at this point.

Step 4: Review

When AUP has received all of the documents (including responses from your recommenders), the Admissions Committee will review your application. In some cases the committee may come back to you for additional information. A review takes approximately four weeks from when the final documents are received.

Step 5: Decision (in Portal) 

When the Admissions Committee has reached its decision, an email will be sent to the address provided asking you to log-on to the Application Portal to view the decision. 

We review completed applications in rounds throughout the year. We encourage you to apply early: priority for admission and financial aid is given to those who apply in the earlier rounds.

Fall Admission

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• American University of Paris, France

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About American University of Paris

The  American University of Paris  ( AUP ) is a private, independent, and accredited liberal arts and sciences university in Paris, France. Founded in 1962, the university is one of the oldest American institutions of higher education in Europe. The university campus consists of ten buildings, centrally located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, on the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and the Seine.

The university's language of instruction is English, although students must prove a level of proficiency in French prior to graduation.  The university has over 1100 students, representing 108 nationalities, with an average student-to-faculty ratio of twelve to one. The university's faculty members represent thirty nationalities, with 69% holding doctoral degrees and close to 70% speaking three or more languages.

Transfer Course Guide

The transfer course guide creates a transfer program between Santa Monica College and The American University of Paris.

The student has received IGETC certification by the time s/he transfers to AUP.

The student has acquired a minimum of 45 UC/CSU transferable semester credits at SMC by the time s/he transfers to AUP.

Her/his cumulative UC/CSU transferable Grade Point Average is equal or superior to 3.0 ("B").

The student is in good disciplinary standing at SMC.

This transfer course guide is designated for degree-seeking students enrolled at SMC interested in transferring to the following programs at AUP:

• Art History
• Art HIstory with a Visual Culture Track
• Computer Science (ICT Track)
• Entrepreneurship
• Film Studies
• Global Communication
• International Business Administration
• International and Comparative Politics
• International Economics
• International Finance
• Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Financial Aid Information

In order to be eligible for institutional financial aid at The American University of Paris, you will need to fill out FAFSA and AUP's Financial Aid Application for Guaranteed Admitted Students. AUP's FAFSA code is G07881 (0 as in zero). Please note that the AUP Financial Aid application must be accompanied by tax returns and income statements (W2 forms usually) in order to be reviewed. If you are 23 or younger, please attach your parents' documents. If you are 24 or older, please attach your documents.

If you plan to apply for financial aid, please submit the following documents to your admissions counselor Jen Boucher ( [email protected] ) in PDF format:

• A personal statement essay of 500 words or fewer following a prompt from the Common Application
• A second essay of 300 words or fewer in response to your specific interest in studying at AUP
• A list of your extra-curricular activities and work experience or a resume
• 1-2 Letters of Recommendation, preferably from academic sources (optional)

AUP requests these additional documents for students applying for financial aid because scholarships are awarded based on merit and need. You may submit these documents after your acceptance.

Federal regulations prohibit AUP from administering U.S. federal loans (Stafford or PLUS loans) for any student participating in this program during the time spent at AUP. U.S. citizens and permanent residents who qualify may still apply for a private Sallie Mae Smart Option Loan for all legitimate educational and living expenses.

Additional Websites

Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

What do the 2024-25 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

• Liberal Arts (59)

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

Agnes Scott College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

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The 9 Types of Supplemental Essays and How to Write Them

• Sasha Chada
• July 27, 2020

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Alongside the personal statement, colleges want all kinds of essay questions answered, from the benign “What do you want to Major in?” to the more outlandish “What’s so odd about odd numbers?” Unfortunately, many applicants struggle with doing more work than is necessary for these essays, trying to write 10, 20, or even 30 different supplemental essays. 

There is a better way. In fact, we’ll let you in on a secret: there are actually only nine* types of supplemental essays, and once you can recognize and understand these prompts, writing them becomes a much easier task. 

*Terms and conditions may apply.

The nine types of supplemental essay prompts are: 

• Why Us? 

Why Major? 

Leadership, extracurricular.

• “Quotation”

Short answer.

•  ~Zany~

Here we’ll describe each kind of prompt, how to recognize it, and how to go about answering it. 

Example: Northwestern Essay Prompt

“Other parts of your application give us a sense of how you might contribute to Northwestern. But we also want to consider how Northwestern will contribute to your interests and goals. In 300 words or less, help us understand what aspects of Northwestern appeal most to you, and how you’ll make use of specific resources and opportunities here.”

This is the most common supplemental question asked by universities. Everyone wants to feel special, and admissions departments are no different. The point of this essay isn’t just to tell the college how great they are (they presumably already know that), but to explain why you would be a great fit for this particular college. 

To illustrate your compatibility, first determine what makes a college a good fit for you, beginning with academics. What specific programs do they offer? What majors? Are there specific faculty members with which you might want to work? What research opportunities does the school provide? 

After you determine the answers to these questions, you have the first piece of the essay, and can then add in the second: how does the school fill your specific needs? 

In effect, you want the reader to be able to clearly understand the following formulation: “I want to major in X, so program Y at your school is great for me because …” 

The “great fit for me, because ” is key: MIT knows they have a great engineering program, so if you want to study engineering, it’d be a great place for you. The point of this essay is to be specific about why that program, in particular, would be a great fit for you because of your unique interests, talents, and abilities. The more specific you are when writing this essay, the more likely the school will agree with your assessment. 

You can – and should – also mention non-academic factors, but they should not be the core of the essay. Berkeley and Brown both have strong programs, but are very different schools; Brown is a small, private college with no core curriculum in the Ivy League, while Berkely is on the opposite coast, a large public institution, with a strong athletic tradition; there are myriad factors to consider outside of academics. You do not have to mention all of them, but again, determine what matters to you, and describe how the school fills those desires. 

That said, you do not have to write different “Why Us” essays for all your schools . Why? Because, most schools have similar programs or opportunities that overlap; thus, you can simply find each school-specific opportunities and fill them in accordingly.  The important factor in a “Why Us” is the specific reason that the program or opportunity is a fit for you and the reason why such an opportunity is a good fit for you is unlikely to be different across the board for most schools. This is especially true if the programs and opportunities between schools are similar.  

Example: UT Austin Essay Prompt

“Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?” 

Not every school will ask this question, but it is one of the most common prompts, especially since some schools factor in a student’s desired major when making admissions decisions. The key to this essay is to avoid cliché and banality, while also not lying or doctoring your own personal experiences. 

Which of these is more compelling: 

“I want to major in business because I want to work in finance and be rich.” 

“My mom worked in finance, and when I was young, we bonded while she explained her job to me when working at home. I want to follow in my mother’s footsteps and help other people manage their own finances, so they can thrive financially.” 

Neither of these is a full essay, but each represents a central theme, which an essay may be built around. While there is nothing wrong with desiring wealth or success, there is also nothing terribly interesting or unique about them. Who doesn’t want an Olympic size pool of cash that they can swim in Scrooge McDuck style? Wanting to be rich for the sake of wealth alone is boring, and the last thing a college essay should be is dull. 

This essay requires introspection. What led you to desire what you want to do? What were the formative events that caused you to want to enter a certain field, or study a particular topic? 

The strongest ‘Why Major’ essays give a unique answer that could only be written by the applicant, clearly demonstrating to the reader an utterly personal reason for the choice of prospective major.

Example: Yale Essay Prompt

“Reflect on your membership in a community. Why is your involvement important to you? How has it shaped you?  You may define community however you like.”

This essay comes in many guises, but can be spotted by the word “community” appearing somewhere in the question. This is an essay you need to only write once, and then edit to meet specific word counts or details as prompts require. 

So, what counts as a community anyway? Basically, any grouping of people you are a member of can be considered a community. 

Any group where you can say: “There is an us, and I am part of that.” This may seem incredibly broad, and that’s because it is. The point of this essay is to tell admissions officers something about you they wouldn’t otherwise know. 

For a community essay, describe how you impacted a community, and how it impacted you. Did founding a chess club, for example, teach you the joy of mentoring others to success? Or, perhaps, did being a part of a minority group give you a unique perspective that allowed you to make a difference in the world around you? 

This essay should describe your growth as an individual through your contributions to the greater whole, and how you improved the group as well. Admissions officers are trying to build a community in their admitted class, and want to be sure you will be a strong part of that community. 

Example: University of California Essay Prompt

“Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.”

Leadership is a difficult quality to define; thus, some students find this essay prompt surprisingly difficult. What you should understand, though, is that there are two kinds of leadership, and demonstrating either will meet the requirements for this essay. 

The types of leadership are de jure and de facto . These are fancy legal terms, and therefore in Latin, because terms in Latin make you seem more serious and important. 

De Jure leadership is officially recognized and sanctioned leadership. For example, president of a club, member of student council, or Eagle Scout are all examples of de jure leadership. These all lead to an easy time writing an essay, because these positions all require skill at leadership and provide valuable experience in such. Each essay should talk about a concrete experience; a time where you truly made a difference based on the actions you took in a position of leadership. The difference may be small, but it should still be an observable impact. 

De Facto leadership is leadership that arises out of a non-officially sanctioned role. People can display leadership even when they haven’t been officially put in charge of a situation. For instance, maybe you organized your friends to put together an apology when things went wrong in class, or maybe you independently organized a neighborhood soccer game or cookout to raise money for a local charity. 

Whatever kind of leadership you exhibit, your essay should focus on a concrete event. First, determine for yourself what happened. What was the background? What were the stakes? What did you do specifically? What outcome did your involvement bring? This essay is meant to highlight one of your accomplishments by showing what precisely you have done. Avoid generalities, and give enough details to paint a vivid picture without overwhelming the reader. 

Example: Rice University Essay Prompt

“Rice is lauded for creating a collaborative atmosphere that enhances the quality of life for all members of our campus community. The Residential College System is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspectives would you contribute to life at Rice?”  

This essay asks students about diversity, and how they might fit into or contribute to a diverse community. Like the leadership essay, many students struggle with this essay, because they define diversity narrowly for themselves. It is important first to realize that diversity can mean many things in the context of college admissions. Diversity comes not just from ethnicity, but from nationality, socio-economic position, geographic location, intellectual positions, religious identity, and personal circumstances of all stripes. 

Let’s break it down further. Ethnic and racial diversity are the first things anyone thinks of when diversity is mentioned, but some students worry that they don’t fit into any “valid” category to count as diverse here. However schools are also looking for a diverse set of backgrounds, experiences, and worldviews in their student population, and so more types of diversity are considered and accepted. 

Nationality may not apply to all students, but for non-american students, or 1st or 2nd generation immigrants, nationality can be a major part of their identity, and this can contribute to the diversity of backgrounds and experiences on campus. 

Socio-economic position describes how well off a family is, how much they struggled, or not, for resources. This too can cause a wide variety of experiences, some of which may be quite rare on college campuses, and thus count as diversity of experience. 

Geographic location can be used as a factor of diversity at times, for instance students from Montana are quite rare compared to Texans or Californians, and so their backgrounds and experiences count as diversity for schools. 

Once you have determined what form of diversity applies to you, think about how your lived experience has shaped you: how you view the world, react to it, and operate within a broader picture because of who you are. This essay is meant to describe how you are unique, and how your unique experiences and viewpoints will contribute to the campus community as a whole.

In many instances, this essay may also overlap with the community essay, which is closely related to the topic of ‘diversity’ in many ways. 

Example: Apply California Essay Prompt

“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.” 

These essays ask you specifically about an extracurricular you have participated in. While your personal statement and other essays can and should draw from the experiences you had in extracurriculars , this essay focuses exclusively on one.

As with the rest of the essays, the college wants to learn something about you, so the extracurricular should be used as a lens through which one of your facets is displayed. 

This essay is less common, and here there is a bonus: essays written for other topics may be easily modified to fit these prompts. Leadership and community essays, if they discuss an activity you participated in, will fit this prompt very well with only minor editing. In this way, you get two great essays that say something important about you for the price of one. 

NOTE: Don’t do this if the same school asks for both – that’ll just make you look lazy. 

As a final note, if you already talked about an extracurricular in your personal statement or another supplemental essay, then avoid using it again, unless you have something truly unique to say about it for another essay. Speaking about multiple different extracurriculars across different essays provides greater depth to your application, and tells colleges things they would otherwise not know about you.

“Quotation” 

Example: university of virginia essay prompt.

“Rita Dove, UVA English professor and former U.S. Poet Laureate, once said in an interview that ‘…there are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.’ Describe a time when, instead of complaining, you took action for the greater good.”

These essays ask students to interact with and respond to a quote. The quote in question will (usually) relate to the school, its mission, or its values in some way. The goal of this essay is to use the quote as a lens to discuss yourself and your possible ties to the school community. 

This essay, like all supplemental essays, should say something about you in particular. Through your discussion of and interaction with the quote, bring some aspect of yourself to light. Good topics to use? Leadership, Community, and Extracurricular essays are usually good prompts to cross apply here. While editing will be required to more clearly fit these pieces to the specific quote, tying in previously written work will vastly decrease your overall workload. 

The ultimate goal is to be lazy in a smart way. Working properly, precisely, and surgically will give greater returns for less overall effort. It is better to spend your time crafting a great essay that can do double, triple, or even quadruple duty than it is to use the same amount of time to quickly cobble together four totally different essays. 

Example: Wake Forest Essay Prompts

“List five books you have read that intrigued you. (Spaces have been left for you to include each book’s title and author and mark whether the selection was required or not required.)”

“ Give us your top ten list.”

“As part of my high-school English curriculum, I was required to read _________. I would have liked to replace it with______. The required book I was most surprised I enjoyed was ________.”

These questions are more varied, and can cover any number of topics. When answering these questions, look first at the available word count, as this will shape how you should go about answering the question. A question asking you for your favorite book, and giving 50 words of space, probably wants more than the title alone. 

While these questions won’t have the same space for details as other questions, a little effort can go a long way. If asked for your favorite book, don’t merely say what, but why, and take a sentence or two to explain what this book means to you specifically. 

If you are asked for a list of books you’ve read over the past year, you may either use the whole word space for titles (which is respectable if you are being honest) or use the space to describe a few of the books you’ve read. This approach is recommended if you haven’t done much reading outside of school. 

These questions seek to fill out details, and get a fuller sense of the applicant as a person and scholar. Oblige them by offering insight into your life and how you think about and react to the world. 

Example: University of Chicago Essay Prompt

“Cats have nine lives, Pac-Man has 3 lives, and radioactive isotopes have half-lives. How many lives does something else—conceptual or actual—have, and why?”  

“Student self-governance, which encourages student investment and initiative, is a hallmark of the UVA culture. In her fourth year at UVA, Laura Nelson was inspired to create Flash Seminars, one-time classes which facilitate high-energy discussion about thought-provoking topics outside of traditional coursework. If you created a Flash Seminar, what idea would you explore and why?” (UVA essay prompt)

These are the rarest form of question, but are some of the most difficult to answer. The primary perpetrators of such questions are Stanford and UChicago, both of whom pride themselves on occasionally preposterous prompts. 

The trick with these prompts is to lean in, and embrace the weirdness. Many of these schools have a strong culture of idiosyncratic thinkers, which these prompts target by forcing applicants to think outside the box.  Each of these prompts must be approached on their own, and most will not be able to overlap with other prompts. 

Still, the same general guidelines apply; the essay should tell the college something they don’t already know about you, and give them deeper insight into how you think and approach problems. 

Final Thoughts

This list will cover most types of essay, but some schools will have their own eccentricities, or oddball questions they throw at you. In that event, remember the core lesson: supplemental essays serve to tell the school more about you; information they could not learn in any other way. These are the nine most common types of supplemental essay questions, and while they will not cover every situation, they will leave you well prepared for whatever form of essay a college asks you to write.

At Ivy Scholars, we have a well developed system to cross apply essays, ensuring that the fewest number of unique essays need to be written. Use your time wisely to craft the best essays, not the largest amount of essays. “Work smarter, not harder” is a cliché, but it is an approach that could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. 

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How to Write the American University Supplement Essay 2017-2018

Just northwest of downtown Washington, D.C., sits a suburban pocket of the city that is home to American University, a  private research university  that enrolls about 7,700 undergraduates each year. Just a fifteen-minute bus ride away from the downtown area of our nation’s capital, American University offers students the best of both worlds — a suburban campus feel with easy access to a thriving and exciting city.

Given its location, it’s no surprise that American University offers top-notch international relations training, nor that its students are typically considered some of the most politically active in the nation. But AU’s strengths go beyond its ability to leverage its location for the good of its students. As a research university, it emphasizes the stellar research opportunities that it offers undergraduates, and in fact, it encourages all undergrads to make use of its research-related resources to pursue the projects of their dreams.

In recent years, American University has exponentially focused on building a campus that can attract and support an increasingly diverse student population from a variety of backgrounds. This year, the essay portion of AU’s application asks potential students to speak directly to that issue, and this article will offer some suggestions of how you might approach that question no matter what your background is.

American University Application Essay Prompt

All first-year students will participate in the american university experience (aux), a course specially designed for students transitioning into their first year of college at au. aux classes meet once per week as small, interactive and inclusive communities. the course provides a place for students to build academic skills for college success; learn about issues of privilege and bias; and explore their own personal identities. the course also models ways of communicating and living in a diverse society, particularly in reference to addressing divergent opinions on challenging topics., how do you personally define an inclusive environment what do you believe contributes to a diverse and accepting community (500 words).

Before answering this question, you might ask yourself: What is the purpose of this essay? Unlike other college admissions essays that ask you to directly discuss your identity or background, this essay is not particularly concerned with your own personal history (though that may certainly play a role in your response). Rather, this essay wants to get a sense of what you hope your college education will be like and how you will engage people from different backgrounds with different beliefs.

Many people have different ideas about what a “diverse and accepting community” might look like. As you write this essay, the admissions officers are not particularly interested in whether your response conforms with “liberal” or “conservative” ideals about diversity; they are more interested in seeing that you can carry on a thoughtful and respectful conversation. If you would like to know more about how American University understands what an “inclusive environment” looks like, you can review their web page dedicated to that issue .

In recent years, there has been debate about how the commitment to diversity on university campuses intersects with the issues of free speech, safe spaces, and trigger warnings. One way to answer this prompt is to tackle those issues head-on. Some useful context and a few perspectives on these issues can be found here .

If you take this approach to the prompt, you should avoid making generalized statements about whether or not you think “safe spaces” are good or bad. A better approach would be to write a response to a specific quote from someone else. For example, in the series of radio interviews I’ve linked to above, Cameron Okeke discusses the role that safe spaces played in his education. In a piece that he wrote for Vox , he says:

If you want the perspective of someone with PTSD, then you better be prepared to do the work to make them comfortable enough to speak up in class, and that means giving them a heads up when discussing potentially triggering topics.

Do you agree or disagree? What kinds of institutional support beyond trigger warnings might be needed to make people with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) comfortable enough to speak up? When you pick out a specific claim and respond to it, you are not only giving your essay a clear focus but also demonstrating that you can participate in a thoughtful discussion of texts — something that you will be doing no matter what university you end up at or what you decide to major in.

Another way to respond to this prompt is to begin with a story from your own personal experience and then discuss how that experience shaped your ideas about what an “inclusive environment” looks like. For example, maybe you went to the county courthouse with your mother and saw a statue of a Confederate soldier outside the courthouse door. How did seeing that statue make you feel? Can an inclusive environment “include” such monuments? Creating a welcoming space might be more than just a matter of welcoming people from a variety of different backgrounds into that space; it might also have something to do with the plaques, memorials, and architecture of the space itself.

A third way of approaching this topic might be to talk about an environment that you felt did a particularly good job of welcoming diverse perspectives and ideas. Maybe you had a high school English teacher who always seemed like she was able to get a good, respectful discussion going. How did she accomplish that? Maybe instead of just tossing out an “open-ended” question and letting the loudest students in the classroom talk, the teacher asked everyone to write down a response first and then had you form smaller discussion groups — giving those who might be more shy an avenue to start speaking.

On its face, this teaching technique might not seem directly related to welcoming people from diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives. But on closer examination, the link might be clear.

If a classroom only has one student from India, and the text for discussion on that particular day happens to be Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things , it is very easy for that student to feel the pressure of somehow serving as the “example” of all of Indian culture to the class as a whole. Some students might welcome that role, but for many that can be an uncomfortable position.

Perhaps the small group discussion technique lets students address each other as individuals and sustain a more dynamic conversation that does not put one particular student “on the spot.” If you are interested, USC’s Rossier School of Education has assembled an online library of resources for building an inclusive classroom that you can investigate.

Whatever approach you take, I would encourage you to focus in on something specific: a specific quote from someone, a specific personal experience, or a specific form of institutional support that you encountered. This prompt runs the risk of inviting vague pontificating, but a thoughtful discussion usually begins with an analysis of a specific text or situation from which more general conclusions are later developed.

For information on the application essays for other schools, check out CollegeVine’s database of essay guides .

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Command Education

2024-2025 college application supplemental essay guides.

Do you have a special talent, a defining quirk, or a core trait that isn’t reflected on your college application? Is there something about you that makes you a perfect fit for your dream school?

If you are applying to a prestigious college or university, the Common App Essay is not the only piece of writing you have to complete. Top schools require students to submit one or more essays in response to prompts that they provide. These essays offer applicants the opportunity to articulate their interest in a specific school, showcase their unique qualifications for admission, and demonstrate the ways in which they will enrich their future campus community.

Supplemental essay prompts often fall into discrete categories, which Command Education has dubbed “Why this school?’ “The Diversity and Community Question,” and “The Rapid-Fire List,” among others. Learning how to recognize different types of prompts is key to optimizing limited word counts and decoding what admissions officers are truly seeking to learn about you with each prompt.

Want to learn more about supplemental essay types and tips?

Regardless of the type of prompt you’re tackling, remember that these prompts are a critical opportunity to show admissions officers your personality, values, and guiding passions. As such, your supplemental essays should be:

Essays are evaluated both for their content and for their grammar, so make sure that you take the time to read your essay out loud, meticulously proofread it at least twice, and even have a trusted, experienced adult (like an English teacher) review your essay before you click submit. Don’t lose points because of basic grammar mistakes.

Thoughtful and Original

Think deeply about each topic you write about. Avoid writing platitudes. Strive to find ideas that feel new and don’t fall into typical high school tropes. Show off your personality and what makes you unique!

Aim to be self-aware with everything you write, and avoid coming across as overconfident, entitled, or too pessimistic.

Below, you’ll find guides for how to answer every top school’s supplemental essay question(s), complete with examples!

SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDES

• All Schools

How to Write Boston University Supplemental Essays

How to Write the American University Supplemental Essay

How to Write the Amherst College Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Brown University Supplemental Essays

How to Write the CalTech Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Carnegie Mellon Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Claremont McKenna College Essays

How to Write the Columbia University Essays

How to Write the Cornell University Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Dartmouth College Essays

How to Write the Duke University Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Emory University Supplemental Essays

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Supplemental essay

<p>Does anyone know what the supplemental essay will be for AU to accompany the Common App?</p>

<p>There are two supplemental essays for this year:</p>

<p>American University provides its students the freedom to pursue majors and minors within and across the different schools and colleges of the University. In no more than two paragraphs, discuss your academic goals and how American University would help you achieve them. (250 word limit - no minimum)</p>

<p>In no more than two paragraphs, please address one of the following prompts: </p>

<p>1) Picture your journey in the American University community from freshman year to graduation day. Describe the person you hope to become on this journey.</p>

<p>-OR-</p>

<p>2) American University is known for its politically active student body, where students engage in a variety of local, national, and global issues. Discuss an issue of importance to you and how you hope to become further involved with it as a member of the American University community. (250 word limit – no minimum)</p>

<p>Do you think it would help or hurt to answer both though only one is required? </p>

American University Essay 2022-2023

American university essay 2022-23, american university essay: quick facts.

• American University Acceptance Rate: 36%– U.S. News ranks American University as a more selective school. 
• 1 (~ 150 word) essay
• American University Application: Students must submit their American University application through the Common Application . Make sure to have all of your American University supplemental essays and other required application materials ready when applying. 
• Early Decision: November 15th
• Early Decision 2: January 15th
• Regular Decision: January 15th 
• American University Essay Tip: There is only one American University essay to complete. Make sure that you take the time to answer carefully and thoughtfully. 

Does American University require any supplemental essays?

Yes. There is one 150-word American University essay that students must complete—the “Why American University” essay.

Since there are not multiple American University essay prompts, you should do all you can to make this Why American University essay count. 

You only have 150 words to use in this American University supplement essay. Although there aren’t various American University essay prompts and the only required “Why American University essay” is short, that doesn’t make it easier to complete. The difficulty lies in writing about a broad topic in a small amount of space. 

Showcase your writing

Your American University essay is your only chance beyond your Common App essay to showcase your writing skills. It also lets you show American University why you belong on their campus. As such, your American University supplement can make a major difference in your application. A strong American University supplement essay, then, will increase your admissions odds. So, when strategizing around how to get into American University, prioritize your American University supplemental essays. This will give you an advantage . 

If you’re not sure where to begin, don’t worry. Below, we’ve provided a detailed guide on how to write a successful “Why American University essay.” 

What are American University’s Essays?

Here’s the American University supplemental essay prompt:

Why are you interested in American University? (150 words max.)

As we discussed, there are not multiple American University essay prompts. Take advantage of your one chance to impress the American University admissions committee! Students who write excellent American University supplemental essays are sure to stand out.

You might be familiar with “Why School essays” from other supplements. So, approach the “Why American University essay” with the same strategy that you might have used on other applications . Namely, your essay should show the American University admissions committee why you belong at their school. 

This essay also helps the American University admissions committee envision you on campus. The admissions team wants to admit students who will enrich their community. Your American University essay, then, should show how you’d actively contribute to campus life . Successful American University supplemental essays will answer not only the why American University essay prompt, but also show American University why they should invest in you. 

Standing out

No matter your interests, showing passion and leadership will help you stand out . In your American University supplement, therefore, you should highlight exactly how you’d engage with American University and its offerings.  Students who write successful American University supplemental essays will show their motivation and enthusiasm for the school. 

This American University supplement also assesses how well a student fits in with the school’s culture. American University Admissions doesn’t just want to know why you want to attend their school; they also want to know if their school will serve your needs . Well-written American University supplemental essays need to touch on both of these points. 

With this in mind, do some research before writing your American University supplement. The Why American University essay reveals how much you know about American University. It also shows how you’ll take advantage of the resources the school provides. The best American University supplemental essays will show specific knowledge about American University and provide strong evidence that the writer will succeed on campus.

Demonstrate your interest

Pay attention to how this prompt uses the word “interested.” In your American University supplement essay, you should show “ demonstrated interest ,” or DI. Unlike some top schools, American University tracks demonstrated interest. This means that they evaluate how much you engage with the school and actively show that you want to attend. 

Universities often use DI as a tool to measure exactly how much a student wants to attend. Since “why school” essays are useful for determining DI , many universities use questions like the American University essay prompts in their supplements.

Now that you know more about the American University supplement essay, let’s look at how to write it. You can also use the tips in this guide to answer similar questions on other university supplements. If you apply anywhere else with a “why us” essay, the information below will help you complete supplements like the American University essay prompts.

Approaching a “Why School” essay

As we now know, there aren’t multiple American University supplemental essays. So, applicants are faced with the tricky task of impressing admissions officers with one short, well-crafted American University supplemental essay. You may be thrilled at the prospect of not having to respond to multiple American University essay prompts. However, without multiple American University supplemental essays to write, the spotlight is truly on your “why American University essay.”

You’ll likely see the why school essay in other college applications. You shouldn’t reuse essays, as they need to be specific to each school. However, they will all achieve the same general goal. You should use the why American University essay to amplify your application by showing what you’ll gain from attending their school. However, a successful why American University essay won’t stop there. You’ll also need to show how you will enhance the school. What will you bring to campus? This “why American University essay” is your opportunity to show that you are a perfect fit. 

Research is key

There are probably specific qualities that attracted you to the school. Essentially, ask yourself why you want to go there. Is there a certain major , internship , or other program that excites you? Are there clubs you want to join or courses you want to take there?

Try not to think of this research as another chore in your American University application process. Get excited about learning more about the school. Authentic passion and drive will come across in successful American University supplemental essays. However, it can’t be faked. So, take advantage of not having multiple American University supplemental essay prompts to manage. Then, dive head first into your why American University essay research. 

Avoid common mistakes

The biggest mistake that students make when responding to the why school essay is being overly general. Vague or dispassionate American University supplemental essays will not help you overcome the American University acceptance rate. 

Use what you learned during your college search to help you get started. What qualifying factors did you use to compare colleges ? What made you decide to go through the lengthy American University application? Reference specific programs, courses, or unique campus qualities when writing your why American University essay. 

If American University is truly a good fit for you, you’ll probably have many things to talk about. The challenge will be keeping your American University essay focused and within the 150 word limit. Be sure to choose a topic for your Why American University essay that is truly unique and specific to the school. 

Highlight your strengths

Another important part of responding to a why school essay is showing why you are a good fit for the university. What will you bring to campus that no one else could? What kind of experience or leadership skills might you apply to your activities on campus? Think about your skills, talents and interests. Then, highlight them in a way that makes it impossible for American University admissions to deny the positive impact you’d have on the school. 

The majority of schools you apply to will have some version of the why school essay. Similar to the American University essay, NYU only has one supplemental essay which follows the same style. The difference with the why NYU essay is that applicants have 400 words to answer, whereas the American University essay is much shorter. 

Northwestern University, like AU, only gives applicants one supplemental essay apart from the Common app essay. Students must answer the why Northwestern essay prompt in 300 words or less. Check out these successful essays from admitted students. 

UChicago also has a why school essay. However, it is one of multiple supplemental essays that students must complete. And, unlike students responding to the American University essay prompts, UChicago applicants have no word limit to their why school prompt.  

How do I write American University’s supplemental essay?

Writing the “Why American University essay” starts with brainstorming the reasons why you want to attend. Even if American University is not your top choice, you should still have specific reasons why it interests you. The American University admissions team wants to know these reasons!

Think about why you would want to attend American University. Ask yourself what specific aspects of American University most interest you, and make a list. If you’re struggling, do some more research on the school. What extracurriculars does it offer that align with your interests? What academic programs seem exciting to you?

Focus on the details

Once you have your list , make the details as specific as possible. For example, if you wrote down that you like American’s academic programs, try to find a specific discipline or major that American University offers. If you wrote that you enjoy the setting in Washington D.C., you could discuss a specific way AU allows students to interface with the city. The more specific and personal your reasons for applying are, the more the American University admissions committee will want to admit you. 

Then, narrow down your list to two or three specific areas of interest to discuss in detail. Because you only have 150 words in this American University supplement essay, you likely can’t mention every item on your list and stay within the word limit. So, instead of listing everything that interests you in your “Why American University essay,” focus on the most significant items. Although this significance can be subjective, you should likely discuss the programs and offerings that will most influence your choice to attend.

Do your research

After you have your topics, do some more research. Find out exactly how American University will help you pursue your interests. Your American University supplement essay will be more effective if you can reference traditions, specific academic courses, or other opportunities. This shows the American University admissions committee why the school is a good fit for you. 

Some good ways to get that information include:

• Visiting the school’s website: You can look up specific course offerings , browse extracurricular activities , and explore various aspects of student life. Just be sure you use the school’s official page or another trusted source.
• Speaking to a current or former student: If someone you know attends American University or has recently graduated, reach out to them. Their insights can help you connect your interests with specific opportunities at American University.
• Attending a college fair: These events give you a chance to talk to American University admissions representatives about your interests. They also let you gather more information about the school. Plus, speaking to a representative at a college fair is a great way to show DI.

You should also mention any interactions you have had with students or staff in your American University supplement essay. Whether you visit the school (either in person or virtually) or simply email an American University admissions counselor, every engagement with American University shows demonstrated interest. Referencing these conversations in your American University supplement essay reinforces the research that you have done and shows how proactive you are. 

Find a hook

As you begin your “Why American University essay,” start with an interesting hook or topic sentence to grab your reader’s attention. If possible, avoid the standard: “The first reason I want to attend American University is…” because it sounds plain and formulaic. Think about immersing your reader into a story instead of restating the prompt.

Some examples of strong introductions include:

• A description of how you first heard about American University: You might open with the story of a memorable campus visit or an anecdote told by a family member about American University. This introduction establishes an immediate, personal connection with the American University admissions team.
• A career or academic goal that American University will help you achieve: If you already know what career or major you want to pursue, this is a great way to make your intentions known. The rest of your American University essay can then explain why this school will help you achieve your goals.
• A special or unique feature about American University: In your research, you may have encountered a tradition, club, class, or professor that makes American University stand out. Mentioning this in the opening sentence shows that you understand what sets American University apart from other schools.

Focus on core themes

In the body of your “Why American University essay,” stay focused on your core themes. Remember, you may not have enough room to address everything you want to say. Find the essential aspects of American University that make it the ideal school for you. Then, use them as the foundation of your American University supplement essay.

American University Essay Reflections Questions:

• Does this essay show you’ve done research on American University?
• Do you explain why American University is a good fit for you?
• Does this essay reference specific qualities about American University?
• Do you use an interesting hook or introductory sentence?
• Does this essay describe your reasons for applying to American University? 

Want more advice about writing your American University supplement essay? Check out this article for additional tips on impressing American University admissions!

American University Essay & American University Admissions

You may be wondering just how important the American University supplemental essays are in the grand scheme of the American University application. Well, the American University acceptance rate is competitive at 36% . 

For the Class of 2022, there were nearly 19,000 applicants , with the average GPA of admitted students falling in the range of 3.47-4.00. American University currently has a test optional policy. So, if your SAT scores don’t hit at least 1240 (the low end of the average SAT score range for accepted applicants), then you don’t need to submit them. High grades and test scores can help you impress the American University admissions committee. However, grades and scores alone won’t be enough to stand out in the American University admissions process. 

With so many competitive applicants, you’ll want to make sure that you craft an impressive American University application narrative. The American University essay plays an important role in that narrative. The essay matters even more if you’re applying with an average GPA or feel like you don’t have a good SAT score that you want to submit. The American University essay is your opportunity to show admissions what makes you stand out. Use it to highlight why you should be accepted out of the many other qualified candidates.  

Beyond the American University Essay

Knowing how to write the American University supplement essay is important, but in order to figure out how to get into American University you also need to know how to maximize your admissions odds. Since the American University acceptance rate is competitive, your American University supplement essay is incredibly important. And of course, there are other American University supplemental materials that will help to enhance your American University application, such as your teacher recommendation letter . 

The American University admissions committee accepts the Common Application . This means all applicants must complete the Common App essay. You will also submit the American University supplement. On your Common Application, you will report your GPA and courses, share your extracurricular involvement, and write a short personal statement. Each part of the application lets you show the American University admissions team what makes you unique. 

Many factors to consider

Admission to a selective school like American University depends on many factors, including the American University essay prompts. While grades and scores matter, the American University admissions committee also considers things like writing skills and personal qualities. They also evaluate whether American University is the right fit for you. 

To determine these more abstract metrics, the committee relies on the Common App essay—also known as your personal statement —and the American University supplement essay. The American University essay prompts, therefore, let you show why you belong at American University.   

American University admissions states that they have a holistic admissions policy. This means that they look at the whole picture when considering each American University application. So, wondering how to get into American University? AU admissions looks for well-rounded, passionate applicants. Do your best on every part of the American University application, including your American University essay. 

Top 3 Tips for Writing the American University Essay

While there aren’t multiple American University supplemental essays, that doesn’t necessarily make things easier. It will take thoughtful planning to write your compelling yet concise American University essay. 

However, an exceptional American University essay could be what has you opening your acceptanc e letter and planning your college enrollment for fall semester. So, get excited. The more passionate you are about the school, the stronger your essay will be. Here are 3 tips for students to consider in order to write their best American supplemental essays.

American University Essay Top Tips

#1- get specific.

This isn’t not the time to generalize or be vague. Use this American University essay to really learn about specific programs and offerings that are only found at AU. Why did American University make it onto your college list ? A well written why American University essay will highlight the unique education that only American University students can enjoy. 

#2- Why you?

While you want to highlight specific details of American University that you would take advantage of as a prospective student, you also need to tie it back to what you would bring to the campus. Sure, you’re interested in AU, but why should they consider you out of their large pool of competitive applicants? What separates you from the rest?

#3- Make it interesting

Bring your passion and creativity to this American University essay. Think of all the American University supplemental essays that admissions officers have to read. To be successful, yours needs to stand out. Bring some sparkle to your essay by showing off your writing skills and getting innovative while answering the prompt. 

Want more advice about writing your American University supplement essay? Check out this video from American University admissions for additional tips on what to include!

Still looking for inspiration before tackling the American University essay prompts? Before you write your American University supplemental essays, check out some examples of successful college essays . You’ll be able to see what works well. Then, you can use the same techniques to write your best American University essay.

College Essay Examples: 10 Best Examples of College Essays and Why They Worked

American University Supplement Essay: Final Thoughts

When reviewing your American University supplement, the American University admissions team wants to see answers to two distinct questions: “what does this student know about our school” and “what makes our school a good fit for this student.”  Understanding these two implied questions behind the “Why American University essay” will help you craft the best possible response.

Address each part of the question

To answer the first question, let your research shine through in your essay. Use specific examples to let the American University admissions team know that you know a lot about the school. Finally, make sure your American University essay reflects what you might pursue in college.

To answer the second question, make sure you clearly articulate your goals. You want to connect those goals to opportunities at American University and explain how this particular school will help you achieve them. If the topics discussed in your American University essay could apply to any other college, look for more specific details.  

Finally, don’t hesitate to have someone else look over your American University essay before you submit it. A second pair of eyes can help you see ways to improve your writing that you may have missed! 

This American University essay guide was written by Sarah Kaminski .  Looking for more admissions support? Click  here  to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how  CollegeAdvisor.com  can support you in the college application process.

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