![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wowwritingworkshop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Everything-college-essay2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n- MIT\u2019s 5 college essay supplements and Activities prompts<\/a><\/li>
- Prep questions to help answer MIT\u2019s supplemental essays<\/a><\/li>
- Tips to answer any type of college essay prompt<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nMIT\u2019s 5 college essay supplements and Activities prompts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
MIT, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, asks students to write 5 college essay supplements and list a few additional activities. Here are the prompts from 2021-22, and some insight and prep questions to help you get started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Essay 1 (250 words maximum):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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?<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wowwritingworkshop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MIT-photo-with-logo.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPrep Questions: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Do any essays you\u2019ve already written address this prompt (in whole or in part)? If you\u2019ve just finished the Common App personal statement, that could be a good basis for this essay. <\/li>
- List aspects of the \u201cworld you come from.\u201d <\/li>
- What are the characteristics of your family? What clubs are you part of? What is your town like? What other aspects of your world have helped shape you? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Essay 2 (100 words maximum):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prep Questions: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Which of the essays you\u2019ve already written might address this prompt (in whole or in part)? <\/li>
- Which department(s) and program(s) interest you? <\/li>
- Why do they appeal to you? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Essay 3 (200\u2013250 words):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prep Questions:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Which of the essays you\u2019ve already written might address this prompt (in whole or in part)? <\/li>
- List some of the things you do for pleasure. <\/li>
- For each activity, briefly describe why you enjoy it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Essay 4 (200\u2013250 words):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prep Questions<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Which of the essays you\u2019ve already written might address this prompt (in whole or in part)? <\/li>
- Make a list of the different communities you are a member of. <\/li>
- How have you contributed to one or more of those communities? <\/li>
- Why does that contribution matter\u2014to you and to the community? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Essay 5 (200-250 words):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tell us about the most significant challenge you\u2019ve faced or something important that didn\u2019t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prep Questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- List some important moments from your life when things didn’t go according to plan.\u202f <\/li>
- How did you respond to those situations? Did you call for help? Figure it out yourself? Fall down and learn for next time? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Activities <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please use our form, not a resume, to list your activities. There is only enough space to list four things\u2014please choose the four that mean the most to you and tell us a bit about them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prep Questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Review your Common App Activity descriptions. <\/li>
- Which activities mean the most to you and why?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Read below for ideas on how to answer these types of questions for MIT and other schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prep questions to help answer MIT\u2019s supplemental essays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before you read more about how to think about and parse any college essay supplemental prompt, consider what you think you know about the college essay. Ask yourself, what if everything I think I know about the college essay is wrong?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s a good chance the information you’ve heard is indeed wrong. That’s because a lot of inaccurate and out-of-context information makes its way to you through the Internet, books, blogs, and even inside your high school hallways. It’s so important to get accurate information when you are applying to college. That’s where we come into the picture at Wow. We will always give you the most accurate information regarding the college essay, its purpose, how to write one that is effective and also captures the right kind of attention (the kind you want!) inside the admissions office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one knows more than the college essay than Wow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to know what else admission teams care about? Click here.<\/a> If you want to learn more about how to write a college essay that any admissions officer would want to read, please join me for a monthly free webinar for students (invite your bring your friends; Mom and Dad are invited, too!) <\/p>We offer the college essay class<\/a>, called Everything You Think You Know About the College Essay Is WRONG, the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm Eastern (February \u2013 September). In it, I take students like you through the first 4 steps of Wow\u2019s signature process to give students a taste of our approach to the college essay. I dispel the college essay myths, share our best tips, and answer questions live.<\/strong> Can\u2019t join us live? No problem! Just register,<\/a> and I\u2019ll send you the recording.<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s so much information about college essays out there, how can anyone, even a bright, talented student, tell the difference between what\u2019s worth listening to and what\u2019s not? That\u2019s where I can help. I\u2019m a journalist by training, and I only share information I have checked and double-checked, then checked again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I go straight to the source \u2013 college admissions officers \u2013 to find out what they\u2019re looking for in application essays, and I\u2019m excited to share what I know with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Understand the Why This College? Supplemental Essay Prompts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why This College? Essays <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Often students misunderstand the Why College X? prompts\u2014and miss out on an important opportunity to improve their case for admission. We don\u2019t want that to happen to you, so please read this section carefully to find out how to nail this challenging essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Questions about why you want to attend a particular college often look like these from current and past years\u2019 applications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tufts University<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which aspects of Tufts\u2019 curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, \u201cWhy Tufts?\u201d (100-150 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New York University<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU? Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand \u2013 Why NYU? (400 words maximum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cornell University College of Engineering<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For you, what makes Cornell Engineering special? Why do you want to attend Cornell Engineering? (200 words maximum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips to answer any type of college essay prompt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In every case, your answer to a Why College X? Prompt needs to address three important areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The school: What attracts me to this college or program?<\/li>
- The student: What do I want readers to know about me?<\/li>
- The stories: How does what I know about the program mesh with what I want readers to know about me? How can I illustrate this intersection? (stories\/anecdotes)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Many students have very little idea what a school offers academically, socially, or culturally. Sometimes students choose a college because of the location or its status. This is not what admissions officers want to know. They may need to know you will be comfortable in a big city, but they are more interested in their school and what the college or program offers. Do you have the chops to succeed academically? Are there any clubs and activities to support your interests? Why do these factors matter to you? Depending how familiar you are with the school, answering these questions may require some research (online, in-person visits, talking to current students or alumni, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each year, we meet many young people who insist that a school is perfect because they feel at home inside the football stadium and love listening to stories around the Thanksgiving dinner table from Dad, Aunt Lisa and Cousin Diana, all enthusiastic and accomplished alumni. Colleges want students to be comfortable for many reasons, but this type of answer is never sufficient. It does not answer the prompt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can use the illustration below as a thought-starter for thinking about a Why This College? essay. As with personal statements, focus on content before structure and polish. Make sure you understand the purpose of this type of essay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Diagram,](\"https:\/\/jjmc-dev.10web.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/diagram-venn-diagram-description-automatically-g.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo prepare for writing a Why This College? essay, go to the prompt ask yourself these questions Below. This can generate useful notes and ideas that will help you in the writing process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What is the prompt really asking?<\/li>
- What appeals to you about the college\/university\/program?<\/li>
- What do you want the readers to learn about you from reading your response? <\/li>
- Why are you compatible with this school\/program?<\/li>
- What examples\/illustrations can you share to demonstrate your compatibility?<\/li>
- Before drafting your essay, write out a simple paragraph or bullet points responding to this question: When they are done reading this essay, what will readers know about me that they can\u2019t find out from the rest of my application?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
If you have already written a Why Us? Essay,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Note how this prompt is similar to or different from the other school\u2019s Why This? prompt. <\/li>
- Use your other essay(s) as a starting point for this one but use examples for this school. <\/li>
- Make some notes about what you are interested in and what this school offers that address those interests (academic, social, intellectual, cultural, etc.)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Pay attention to the different categories (academic, social, intellectual, cultural, etc.) noted in the specific prompt you\u2019re trying to answer. Here is a sample table for a student applying to the University of Michigan\u2019s LSA program who needs to write this supplemental essay:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests? (100-550 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The School (What attracts me to this university?)<\/strong><\/td> Me (What do I want readers to know about me?)<\/strong><\/td> Stories (How does what I know about the program mesh with what I want them to know about me?)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Survey classes supplemented by smaller learning opportunities<\/strong><\/td> I am independent enough to make the most of large settings and also stay engaged in a small group<\/td> I took language courses at the community college last year. I had to keep my own schedule, turn in assignments without prompting, etc. For English, I took a junior\/senior seminar at school, where every student had to participate in discussion and even lead the discussion sometimes. The day I lead our session on She\u2019s Come Undone was fun and invigorating.<\/td><\/tr> Opportunity to explore areas I\u2019m not familiar with<\/strong><\/td> I am curious about so many things<\/td> I am always going to programs at the art museum, library, etc., whether they are about composting, poetry, or investments.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This table, like the questions above, will be useful for generating ideas and understanding the prompt. We encourage you to fill out this chart for every Why This College? essay you write, as it will help you see the common themes you can use across multiple Why This College? essays, as well as key differences you should be sure to include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some schools want to find out how students might contribute to the campus community by learning about how they participate in their current community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University of Michigan has asked this type of question for several years. It is a typical community essay prompt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone belongs to many different communities and\/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong and describe that community and your place within it. (300 words maximum)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Bryant, U-M\u2019s Assistant Director of Admissions, Visitor Experience & Engagement, spends a lot of time reading and reviewing essays\u2014thousands of application packages each season. She has spent decades inside the admissions office in Ann Arbor and loves hearing student stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She knows what she wants from a community essay: “We have an amazing, vibrant, thriving community made up of students in athletics, strong academics, research, over 1,200 student clubs and organizations. We want to know what applicants do in their community, church, high school, synagogue, and mosque. What are they going to do on our campus to make a difference in the world?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a couple more prompts that ask students to write about how they have contributed, or hope to contribute, to a specific community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
University of Pennsylvania<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
At Penn, learning and growth happen outside of the classrooms, too. How will you explore the community at Penn? Consider how this community will help shape your perspective and identity, and how your identity and perspective will help shape this community. (150-200 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MIT<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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. (200-250 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diversity and Inclusion Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some colleges present opportunities for students to discuss how they will contribute to a diverse and inclusive campus. While these prompts can sometimes sound similar to the community essays described above, pay attention to what each school specifically asks students to focus on in their essays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Duke University<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you\u2019d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you\u2019ve had to help us understand you better, perhaps related to a community you belong to or your family or cultural background, we encourage you to do so here. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. (250 words maximum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pomona College<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
We believe that everyone has something to contribute and receive from a diverse community. Why is belonging to a diverse and inclusive college community important to you? (200 words maximum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rice University<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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 and undergraduate life is heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural tradition each student brings. What life perspectives would you contribute to the Rice community? (500 words maximum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activity Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Often, colleges like to know more about how a student spends their time than the sentence or two that students include on the activities section of an application or resume. When asked, \u201cWhich activity would you continue in college?\u201d or \u201cTell us about one significant activity,\u201d students need to expand upon the activity by explaining what they like about it, what they find engaging about the activity and why this is important to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As with all essay opportunities, make sure you know why you are sharing a story. If you write about tennis because you won six championships, that information is likely already in your application. If you write about how hard you worked to get along with your new doubles partner, and as a result you became a better team player, that\u2019s something readers wouldn\u2019t already know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of our students wrote an amazing activity essay about learning the value of hard work when he cleaned out a dumpster; it was not the easiest task to get while working at a summer camp. But he was asked to do it as part of his job in the kitchen of the overnight camp he had attended for many years. His colorful description of the activity, along with what he learned, showed how hard he worked under the worst of circumstances. His essay revealed his character. That\u2019s why it worked. And that\u2019s why we loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every activity essay, no matter how short, offers a space to share something new and meaningful about yourself and your interests. Consider these examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Georgetown University<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (Approximately one-half page, single-spaced)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vanderbilt University<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (200-400 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harvard University<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (50-150 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Princeton University<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Briefly elaborate on an activity, organization, work experience, or hobby that has been particularly meaningful to you. (Please respond in about 150 words.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Influential Person Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The prompts on college applications are not always as straightforward as they appear. Consider the \u201cinfluential person\u201d essay prompt, which might look like this: Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you and describe that influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colleges do not want to just read stories about Aunt Rose, a beloved first-grade teacher or the student\u2019s great-grandfather who invented the crinkle potato chip. Instead, you need to write about how this special person helped shape you, what you gained from the relationship, and why it matters to you now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is admirable if Aunt Rose saved five children from a burning house or won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But what does that have to do with you? Were you one of the kids she saved? Are you a volunteer firefighter because of this experience? If not, let Aunt Rose apply to college on her own. She might even earn a scholarship for her heroic acts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Issue Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even if a college asks students to discuss an issue (racism, poverty, domestic violence, world hunger, gun control) that is relevant to them, admissions officers still want you to reflect on that issue from a personal perspective. Consider the \u201cissue essay\u201d prompt, which might look like this: Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you passionate about the environment? Do you follow politics like a veteran pundit? Are you a vegetarian or an advocate for the elderly? These are admirable issues, but unless you can explain what you have done because of this great concern, this essay won\u2019t shine; it won’t be effective. Why did you become a vegetarian? How has it affected your daily life? What insight have you gained while teaching Mom and Dad to cook tofu? Answers to questions like these demonstrate reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
University of Virginia<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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.\u201d Describe a time when, instead of complaining, you took action for the greater good. (Roughly 250 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creative Essays<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Students generally either love or hate creative essays. Here are three sample prompts from the University of Chicago, the leader of the creative, provocative prompt:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What if the moon were made of cheese? Or Neptune made of soap? Pick a celestial object, reimagine its material composition, and explore the implications. Feel free to explore the realms of physics, philosophy, fantasy\u2026the sky is the limit!<\/li>
- What\u2019s so easy about pie?<\/li>
- It’s said that history repeats itself. But what about other disciplines? Choose another field (chemistry, philosophy, etc.) and explain how it repeats itself. Explain how it repeats itself.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
In addition to a personal statement, UChicago asks students to write several supplemental essays, including one creative essay, about 1-2 pages long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students who attend UChicago like questions like this. But if you can\u2019t bear the question, it might be a sign that UChicago is probably not a good fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea is to have some fun with this essay. \u201cWrite it any way you want,\u201d the school tells students. \u201cWe think of (the creative prompt) as an opportunity for students to tell us about themselves, their tastes, and their ambitions. They can be approached with utter seriousness, complete fancy, or something in between.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other schools offer creative prompts as well. These samples come from current and past application seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
University of Vermont<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Which Ben & Jerry\u2019s ice cream flavor (real or imagined!) best describes you? (500 words maximum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stanford University<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 words maximum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Covid Prompts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Common App, Coalition App, and some colleges, like the University of Texas, added prompts during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, some optional and some required. The Common App’s prompt was optional. Colleges ask these types of questions to find out how you lived through challenging circumstances like Covid or other natural disasters in a genuine way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common App Covid Prompt<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. (250 words, optional)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This prompt, or one like it, may remain on the Common App and other applications for the 2022-23 application cycle; it might or might not seem relevant for you. If you have something to add to your application surrounding a natural disaster of any kind, this is a good place to share that information. But remember, no whining and no gloating. This is a place to share information you want colleges to know about you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Common App added this question to the Additional Information section, where students have always had the opportunity to share other information, about circumstances like an extended absence from school, long-term illness, or a significant decline in grades. If you feel you have something to share in the Additional Information, or another optional section, it is recommended you discuss your circumstances with your high school counselor or another trusted admissions expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no need to manufacture challenges or heroic efforts in an answer to any prompt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Covid prompt, and all supplemental essays, offer a chance to share something new with colleges and give a more complete picture of who you are. Make the most of this opportunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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- Prep questions to help answer MIT\u2019s supplemental essays<\/a><\/li>