We’ve covered what colleges are looking for in Why This College essays in a podcast a few weeks ago. But given how many of the Ivies have different versions of this essay, we are dedicating another segment to these supplemental pieces. We also have advice as you finalize your college lists, from determining whether it is balanced to considering it in conjunction with your expected family contribution.

by Sara Calvert-Kubrom, former admissions officer at Lewis & Clark College

This year we are seeing substantial changes to the landscape of admission as colleges respond to complex dynamics in our country and the sudden shift to test optional policies due to standardized testing cancellations. With the frequent absence of test scores, many colleges have added new supplemental essay requirements to their applications as a way to learn more about students, and to enhance their ability to be thoughtful community builders for their campuses.

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone.  Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another.  And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free.  It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you.  While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier.  This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week.  Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

Students can continue their search for outside scholarships the entire time they are in college. Many opportunities are awarded based upon a student’s program of study. If you are a female college student who is interested in working in the sports or entertainment industry, this is an opportunity for you!

Scholarship:  The Advancement of Women in Sports and Entertainment Scholarship

by Ian Fisher, former admissions officer at Reed College

This is the fourth in College Coach’s series of posts covering university-specific supplemental essays. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve shared guidance on answering the Brandeis supplemental essay, the CU Boulder admissions essay and the University of Delaware’s test optional supplemental essays. Stay tuned for our last installment for Lehigh University.

Scripps College is really cool. It’s a women’s college nestled in Claremont, California, and a member of a five-college consortium, along with Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, and Pomona. Scripps has maybe the most beautiful campus among the five, with striking Mediterranean architecture and Spanish tile. For women, or those who identify as women, there is really nowhere like Scripps anywhere on the West Coast. Serious applicants to Scripps would do well to research these and other unique qualities of Scripss before they begin to tackle the college’s required supplemental essays.

Ever wonder what goes into the additional information section on the Common App—or if you even have to fill it out? How about what to include in the honors section? We have advice on maximizing these and other areas of the application, including the activities lists and the new COVID question. We’re also sharing what you need to know about the CSS Profile as you prepare to complete this financial document for the colleges that require it. Finally, we’ll walk you through the supplemental essays for Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.

by Jennifer Simons, former admissions officer at Tufts University

This is the third in College Coach’s series of posts covering university-specific supplemental essays. Last week, we shared guidance on answering the CU Boulder admissions essay and the University of Delaware’s test optional supplemental essays. Stay tuned throughout October as we highlight additional prompts for Scripps College and Lehigh University.

If you’re applying to Brandeis University, you’ll encounter this request in the application:

Please include a short response to one of the three prompts below (250 words or fewer).

• Why would you like to attend Brandeis?
• Justice Brandeis once said, “If we would guide by the light of reason, we must let our minds be bold.” Tell us about something bold that you’ve recently done.
• There are approximately 171, 476 words in the English dictionary. Pick your favorite word and tell us why you picked it.

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: Franklin & Marshall College
Lancaster, PA

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

The Spirit of Community is the largest program awarding middle school and high school students for their volunteerism. In addition to the American scholarship competition detailed below, Prudential sponsors similar competitions in many other countries they serve, including Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, and Poland.

Scholarship: Presidential Spirit of Community Award

by Karen Spencer, former admissions officer at Georgetown University

This is the second in College Coach’s series of posts covering university-specific supplemental essays. Earlier this week, we shared guidance on writing the CU Boulder admissions essay, and today we focus on another great public university, the University of Delaware. Stay tuned throughout October as we highlight writing prompts for Brandeis University, Scripps College, and Lehigh University.

The University of Delaware, along with the majority of other colleges and universities, has allowed students to apply test optional this year. However, for students looking to utilize this option, Delaware has required submission of three additional essays.