syracuse university supplemental essay 2023

Syracuse University 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 15

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

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Syracuse University 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community

Please be sure to respond to both parts of the following question:

Syracuse university is a place that seeks to be welcoming to all – and has been since our founding. explain why you are interested in syracuse university and describe a personal experience in which you persevered through adversity, rejected discrimination, learned a lesson, or were inspired by the courageous actions of others and how you will apply what you learned to our community in a positive way. (250 words).

Syracuse wants to accept students from a wide range of backgrounds who will contribute to their community in a positive way, so tell admissions about a time when you persevered, challenged discrimination, learned a valuable lesson, or were inspired; how will you draw from your experiences to be a meaningful addition to the Syracuse student body? Admissions is giving you a broad range of topics to choose from, so take some time to meditate on your possible response before drafting. 

Once you have a topic in mind, be sure to summarize your personal experience in as few words as possible; that way you’ll have plenty of room to discuss what it meant to you, what you took away from it, and how you will apply that lesson or insight to your time at Syracuse. Finally, make sure you include at least a few sentences about why Syracuse is a great fit for you (and vice versa!). Admissions wants to accept thoughtful, reflective, and open-minded individuals to campus, so show them that you fit the bill!

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 4 top tips to write a stellar syracuse essay.

College Essays

Getting admitted to Syracuse has only gotten tougher in recent years, and its current acceptance rate is about 59%. You'll need a strong application to get admitted, and that includes your essays.

You'll need to write one supplemental essay as part of your Syracuse application, and we're here to guide you through every step of the process. Read this guide to learn what the essay prompts are, what the admissions team is really looking for in your responses, what you can write about (and what to avoid), and what strong examples of Syracuse essays look like.

Feature image source: Wikimedia Commons

What Are the Syracuse Supplement Essays?

Syracuse University uses the Common Application, and applicants must answer one of the Common Application prompts . Every applicant to Syracuse must also answer one additional Syracuse supplement essay. Here's the 2022-2023 prompt:

Why are you interested in Syracuse University and how do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive, accessible and respectful campus?

This is a required essay, and it can be up to 250 words long. In the rest of this guide, we explain what admissions officers are looking for in your response to these Syracuse supplement essays and what strong essays look like.

Syracuse Supplement Essay, Analyzed

You probably noticed that the Syracuse essay prompt is a two-parter. You'll have to answer both parts of the prompt well if you want to wow admissions counselors!

To help you do that, we're breaking the prompt down into two sections and explaining how to answer each part .

In this section, we'll explain what the prompt is asking for, what Syracuse is hoping to learn from your response, and potential topics to write about.

Response Part 1: The "Why Syracuse" Section

Why are you interested in Syracuse University?

This is what we commonly call a " why this college " essay. In this case, you need to explain your reasoning behind applying to Syracuse and why it's a school you're interested in attending.

Why does Syracuse care about this? Isn't just applying to the school enough to show you want to get in? Not really. There are several reasons you're being asked to write this Why Syracuse University essay.

First, Syracuse wants to make sure you love the school. Students who are really excited to attend their college and feel it's a good fit for them are more likely to get higher grades, participate more in activities and events, and donate money back to the school after they graduate. Syracuse, along with other colleges, makes a huge effort to create unique opportunities for students, and they want to admit students who are aware of those opportunities and will take advantage of them. If you can show in your Why Syracuse University essay that you really love Syracuse and will make the most of your time there, it'll make the people reviewing your application more confident that you'll have a significant and positive impact on their school.

Syracuse also requests this essay to make sure you and the school are a good fit for each other. If you use this essay to discuss majors, sports, study abroad opportunities, etc. that Syracuse doesn't offer, that could be a red flag that Syracuse isn't a place where you can meet your goals and therefore may not be the best school for you.

To figure out what to write about for this essay, really think about why you're applying to Syracuse and why it could be a great school to attend. Some potential topics include:

Majors, minors, certificates, and/or specific classes Syracuse offers that you're especially interested in.

A mentor, Syracuse alum, or current student who convinced you to apply to Syracuse

Unique study opportunities at Syracuse, such as BioInspired Syracuse or Syracuse University Autonomous Systems Policy.

Syracuse professors whose work you admire and with whom you'd like to study or conduct research.

Clubs or sports teams that you'd be interested in joining (Syracuse has over 300!).

Research opportunities you'd like to have through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement.

Internship opportunities at Syracuse.

Study abroad programs at Syracuse.

Financial aid opportunities Syracuse offers that make it possible for you to attend.

In your response, you should choose one or two reasons why you think Syracuse is the best school for you. For each reason, describe what Syracuse offers, then connect it back to your interests and goals to show that you and Syracuse are a good fit. Also, remember to be as specific as possible in your reasoning to show Syracuse that you've done your research and know exactly how the school can help you reach your goals.

For example, you could discuss how you want to study biochemistry and eventually get a PhD, and you read a newspaper article about a Syracuse professor and the biochemistry work she's doing. You know one of the best ways to prepare yourself for your future is to get research experience as an undergrad, and you can explain that Syracuse is a great school for you because it has an Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement that helps pair undergrads with research experiences. Then, if possible, dive into the type of research you'd like to do, mentioning specific classes you'd like to take or professors you'd like to study under.

As long as your reasons for attending Syracuse are honest and specific to the school, there are no topics to really avoid, but we recommend that at least one of your reasons relate to academics. This will show that you'll be a dedicated student at Syracuse and take your classes seriously.

Response Part 2: The "Why You" Section

....how do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive, accessible and respectful campus?

This part of the prompt is also an example of a pretty typical college essay: the diversity essay . In diversity essays, colleges want to learn more about how you'll contribute to a vibrant, inclusive campus community.

While you may be familiar with diversity referring to race or gender, diversity can actually apply to lots of things. For example, a person's gender identity, religion, and socioeconomic background can contribute to diversity. So can a person's lived experiences or neurodiversity. Understanding that contribute to diversity at Syracuse is the first step to answering this question well.

From there, you need to consider how you'll contribute to the diversity at Syracuse. You are unique, so focus on what you will bring to the table. But keep in mind this prompt isn't about how you're diverse...it's about how you'll add to the Syracuse community. This is a good time to show you've researched Syracuse and identified specific ways you can support diversity on campus. Whether that's joining a specific club or volunteering your time with an on-campus organization, showing you've done your research will help admissions counselors see that you're serious about becoming a Syracuse student.

2 Syracuse Essay Examples

Below are two examples we've come up with of potential Syracuse essays. While these don't exactly fit the 2022-2023 prompt, you'll still be able to learn a lot about what makes a great Syracuse admissions essay from our expert breakdown of the responses.

Keep reading to learn more about what makes for a stellar Syracuse essay.

Example 1: "Why Syracuse?"

I grew up helping my parents run their own small business, and I've known for years that I wanted to follow in their footsteps and start a business of my own. When I told this to my high school guidance counselor, one of the top schools she recommended was Syracuse University and its Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises department. I'm so glad she did because the more I look into the EEE program, the more impressed I am. As one of the few schools that allow students to major in entrepreneurship, I know I'll get in-depth knowledge on how to start a business and keep it running successfully. I can't wait to take part in opportunities like the Couri Hatchery business incubator and pursue internships that give me even more entrepreneurial knowledge.

As I began to do more research on Syracuse, I contacted a friend's older sibling who had graduated from Syracuse. He told me about the huge school spirit students have for the school, and how everyone will dress in orange before basketball games and support Syracuse teams. School sports games are not very popular at my current high school, and I love that I'll now have the chance to be part of a community with such strong school spirit. I'll be ready to join them, wearing my orange and cheering our teams on to victory.

What makes this Syracuse supplemental essay work?

It shows the student knows the school. You don't need to be a lifelong Syracuse fan to be admitted, but you do need to show that you have a good understanding of the school, which this Why Syracuse University essay does. After hearing about Syracuse from his guidance counselor, the writer begins researching programs he's interested in and speaking to an alum. This allows him to mention very specific aspects of the school in his essay, from the school cheering section to programs dedicated to what he wants to study. This shows someone who will be able to hit the ground running as soon as he arrives on campus because he already knows what opportunities he wants to take advantage of.

It focuses more on the school itself than how they learned about it. Some students get tripped up with this essay prompt and think all it wants to know is how you found out about Syracuse. However, you need to go a step further and mention the specific characteristics of Syracuse that convinced you to apply. If the student had spent his essay going into great detail about the conversation he had with his guidance counselor and the schools they discussed, it likely wouldn't have given the admissions committee a clear idea of why he wanted to apply to Syracuse. Instead, he makes the way he learned about Syracuse a small part of the essay and spends the rest of it explaining what about Syracuse makes him want to attend.

Example 2: "Why Syracuse?"

My dream is to work in international relations, helping people from different countries work together to reach their goals. I want to be someone who is comfortable in many cultures, can help different groups of people work together, and has the skills to live and thrive abroad. Since I've never left the country, this may surprise people who know me, but I know Syracuse will help me get there.

Not only does Syracuse have an International Relations major that will give me the skills and classes I need I need for this career field, Syracuse's incredible study abroad program will help me get my first taste of international living. I'm not sure which program I'll attend yet, but with dozens to choose from, I know I'll find the perfect fit. After four years of expanding my boundaries at Syracuse, and being exposed to new languages, skills, and ways of thinking, I'm certain I'll be well prepared to take the next step towards my goals, especially with Syracuse's strong career counseling center and alumni connections to assist me.

It's also important to me to start pursuing friendships with people who have backgrounds different from my own, and Syracuse will also help me achieve this. I plan on becoming an international student mentor and helping students adjust to attending college in a new country. Learning from their experiences will help me later on when I live abroad myself. Syracuse also has many internationally-focused clubs on campus, and I can't wait to join them and use them as a way to make new friends and learn more about issues around the world.

Shows strong, long-term goals. Note that this student doesn't have a specific position or company in mind (many college students don't!), but she is still able to paint a picture of goals that she can continue working towards throughout her career. This shows someone with the ability to plan long-term and look towards the future.

Connects her goals to Syracuse. The most common mistake students make when they answer this prompt is to focus entirely on their goals and neglect to explain how Syracuse will help get them there. This essay shows how Syracuse's academics and culture will help the writer achieve her goals.

4 Tips for Your Syracuse University Essays

As you're writing your Syracuse supplemental essays, keep these four tips in mind to make sure your essays are as strong as they can be.

#1: Be Specific

We've said it throughout the article, but if you want your Syracuse essays to stand out, you need to get specific about your reasons for wanting to attend the school. Your goal is for the admissions committee to really feel your passion for the school and understand why you and Syracuse is a good fit. Don't just say that Syracuse has great classes, smart professors, and an interesting student body. Most schools have that, and the people reading your essay will wonder if you're using identical essays for all the schools you're applying to.

Instead, try to mention opportunities only Syracuse can provide, such as specific programs, courses, extracurriculars, or research opportunities. The things you discuss should be things your other top schools don't offer, things that really make Syracuse stand out.

#2: Show Your Passion

Colleges don't want to admit a lot of students who are lukewarm about their school and their goals, so show Syracuse that there are things you really care about. A generic statement like, "I am impressed by Syracuse's wide variety of clubs" doesn't show much about you or help you stand out from the crowd.

Which clubs at Syracuse make you excited? How will you be involved once you join them? Your passion could be for a major, a career, and extracurricular, a group you hope to join, etc. Whatever it is, make sure it comes through in at least one of your essays and be sure to explain what about it makes you so excited. That'll make your essays more unique and memorable when they're being read.

#3: Make Every Word Count

The 250 word limit on each essay means that they're going to be quite short, so you want to get the most you can out of those words. Start with a short outline of your main points, making sure you're answering each part of the essay prompts. Then expand from there until you hit 250 words. This isn't the essay to tell an in-depth story about your childhood or go into flowery descriptions. Instead, make your main points strong and don't worry about adding too many embellishments.

#4: Edit and Proofread Before You Submit

Be sure to read over each Syracuse supplement essay you before you submit your application. Even though these essays are quite short and probably didn't take you long to write, you should put them away for a few days once you've written a rough draft for each. Then, take them out and look them over with a fresh set of eyes. Check to make sure you've completely answered each prompt, then look for any areas that are unclear, out of place, or irrelevant, and edit as needed.

You may want to repeat this process until you're confident in your essays, and you may also consider having a friend or parent look over your essays as well to give you feedback. When your essays are ready, look them over one last time to make sure they're error free. Then you're ready to submit!

Summary: Syracuse University Essay Prompts

In addition to the Common Application essay, there is one additional Syracuse University essay prompts you must answer:

• Why are you interested in Syracuse University and how do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive, accessible, and respectful campus community?

This essay is required and can be up to 250 words. For the first part of the question (the "Why Syracuse?" question) be sure to explain not just how you found out about Syracuse but what about it convinced you to apply. There are several ways you can approach the second essay, but be sure in your response to discuss how you plan to enrich the diverse community of students at Syracuse with your experiences and background.

What's Next?

Are you working on the Common App essay ? Read our breakdown of the Common App prompts and our guide to picking the best prompt for you.

Want more tips on writing a "why this college" essay? Check out our guide on how to write a perfect "why this college" essay for everything you need to know.

Working on the rest of your Syracuse application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Syracuse University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Orange you glad Syracuse University only makes applicants respond to one Syracuse supplemental essay? We sure are! Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, New York and is home to the adorable “Otto the Orange” mascot.

The Syracuse University supplemental essay prompt

Syracuse asks applicants to respond to only one “Why us” Syracuse supplemental essay question. Although this makes your life easier because you do not have to respond to one million other questions, this means the supplemental else is your one opportunity for demonstrating why you are a good fit for Syracuse.

But don’t worry! Read our guide on how to answer the Syracuse supplemental essay question and you will be sure to excel! 

Essay question

Please be sure to respond to both parts of the following question:

Syracuse University is a place that seeks to be welcoming to all – and has been since our founding. Explain why you are interested in Syracuse University and describe a personal experience in which you persevered through adversity, rejected discrimination, learned a lesson, or were inspired by the courageous actions of others and how you will apply what you learned to our community in a positive way. (250 words max.)

This is a typical “Why us” college essay with two parts. To begin, you should brainstorm and research thoroughly before answering this question. Think of what immediately comes to mind when thinking about what draws you to Syracuse University. Afterwards, you should spend some time exploring on their website and jot down a few notes with the following in mind:

• Is there a particular minor you are intrigued by? 
• Weird traditions you think you would have fun participating in?
• Study-abroad experiences that you haven’t seen at any other college? 

Once you have accumulated this list of aspects of Syracuse University that interest you, it is time to select 1-2 main things that you want to hone in on. Remember, you also want to simultaneously reveal bits of your personality and interests. Therefore, selecting something that truly interests you is key. For example, you can select something that aligns with your intended major such as a particular course or internship opportunity offered.

Part II of the prompt

It is now time to address the second part of this question. Think of a personal experience that you can speak on in regards to this prompt. How do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive, and respectful campus community because of your personal experiences?

This question highlights Syracuse’s core principals. Therefore, admissions officers really want to see that you can align with these principals easily. Asking yourself a few questions is always a good way to start. Here are a few to consider:

• How will you help Syracuse remain diverse?
• In what way would you model inclusiveness on campus? 
• How do you demonstrate respect for the beliefs of others that might differ from your own?

Once again, you want to make sure this is tying back to your first half of your response. For example, you can discuss a particular science course you are interested in taking at Syracuse because you want to become a doctor in the future. You can then discuss how the lack of female support in the medical field needs to be changed and you hope that you can create a safe space for female’s studying to become doctors at Syracuse.

The most difficult part about this prompt is that it has a 250 word maximum, as you will likely want to write more than what you have space for. Getting your thoughts onto the screen and answering both parts of this question should be a breeze for you! 

Final thoughts on responding to the Syracuse University supplemental essays

Think about how you made a difference in any of your current communities. How much did that contribution demonstrate or serve as an example of how you could contribute to Syracuse in a similar way? The important thing is that you seamlessly tie everything together within this response. With 250 words to share why you are interested in and how you will contribute to the Syracuse community, every word counts. Outlining, brainstorming, and researching prior to writing your response is key!

Next steps after applying to Syracuse University

Once you have finished writing your Syracuse supplemental essay, what should you do? You should have a trusted adult or classmate read over your essay to make sure there are no silly mistakes. In addition, they should be checking that you are answering the prompt thoroughly. 

Once your essay has been read over and approved by at least one other person – it is time to submit your application! Congratulations! You are one step closer to becoming a Syracuse student!

Now that your application is submitted, be sure to check your email, Syracuse portal and any Syracuse social media accounts to stay updated on any changes in your application’s decision.  Good luck to you in your future endeavors! 

Also see: How to show demonstrated interest in a college

Additional resources

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Syracuse Supplemental Essays 2023-24

Syracuse supplemental essays.

Looking for guidance on how to get into Syracuse ? One key part of your application is the Syracuse supplemental essays. Namely, the Why Syracuse essay will play a large role in showing admissions why you belong at Syracuse University . In this guide, we will explore how to respond effectively to the Syracuse essay prompts.

While there are many parts to any college application, the essays are one of the most important. Your Syracuse supplemental essays are an opportunity to highlight different aspects of your personality to admissions. As a selective private school, Syracuse is hoping to build a class that is thoughtful, community-oriented, and talented. Through your Syracuse supplemental essays, you can showcase these characteristics and much more about yourself. 

Throughout this Syracuse University supplemental essays guide, we will methodically provide all the information you need to write excellent Syracuse supplemental essays. We will explore the Syracuse essay prompts in detail, noting what makes the Why Syracuse essay unique. Lastly, we will provide tips on how to make your Syracuse supplemental essays stand out, and how to get into Syracuse by beating the Syracuse acceptance rate.

Syracuse Admissions: Quick Facts

Syracuse university admissions quick facts.

• Syracuse University Acceptance Rate:  52%– U.S. News ranks Syracuse University at #67 on their National Universities list. 
• Personal statement
• 1 (~ 250 word) essay
• Syracuse University Application:  Students must submit their Syracuse University application through the  Common Application or Coalition Application . Prepare your Syracuse University supplemental essays and other  required application materials  before applying. 
• Early Decision: November 15th
• Early Decision II: January 5th
• Regular Decision: January 5th 
• Syracuse University Essay Tip:  When writing the Why Syracuse essay, review your draft carefully to ensure you are answering all parts of the prompt. Your essay should be captivating, but also comprehensive. So, after you’ve finished writing, double-check the prompt to make sure you stay on track!  

Does Syracuse have supplemental essays?

Yes – Syracuse has one supplemental essay. The Why Syracuse essay is an opportunity to stand out to admissions. And, since there are not multiple Syracuse supplemental essays, it is critical to write a strong response to this one. 

In general, supplemental essays are short, school-specific essays that allow you to make the case for why you’re the perfect fit for that institution. Indeed, Syracuse University supplemental essays responses must be 250 words or fewer. With so few words, every single one will count. As such, plan to spend time editing to remove any unnecessary words. This will ensure that you are using your space for ideas that answer the Syracuse essay prompts.

Your Syracuse University supplemental essays are one of the few ways to make your Syracuse application stand out. Likewise, the personal statement is another important piece of your Syracuse requirements. But, what’s the difference between the Syracuse supplemental essays and the personal statement? Next, we’ll dive into the difference between the two.

How many essays does Syracuse require?

In total, a complete Syracuse application includes two essays. The first is your personal statement. A personal statement is an essay that introduces you to the admissions committee. Depending on whether you are applying using the Common App or Coalition App, there will be slightly different personal statement prompts. However, generally, they are all geared towards one goal: showcasing the personal attributes that are part of your college application brand .

While your personal statement will not be Syracuse-specific, you should be writing about aspects of your personality and identity that would be appealing to any college. Additionally, successful essays will be written in a compelling format, with storytelling components like a hook and story arc. You can read more about how to write a powerful personal statement in this CollegeAdvisor resource .

The second essay you will write is the supplemental essay, or the Why Syracuse essay. While there are many types of supplemental essays, the Why Syracuse essay is specifically geared toward understanding why you want to attend Syracuse. Additionally, your Syracuse supplemental essays are another opportunity to showcase your personality, skills, values, interests, and goals. Through this essay, you should demonstrate why you are an ideal Syracuse applicant .

If you’re worried about how to accomplish this in your Syracuse University supplemental essays, don’t stress! Keep reading as we break down the Syracuse essay prompts. 

When beginning your Syracuse University supplemental essays, the first step is to make sure you understand the prompt. The good news is there aren’t multiple Syracuse essay prompts to decipher. However, the Syracuse supplemental essays are a bit more complex than the average supplemental essays. Commonly, supplemental essays fall into one of a few types : the Why School essay, Why Major essay, community essay, or personal challenge essay. 

Read the Syracuse prompt below and note which of these common essay categories it falls into:

Syracuse University is a place that seeks to be welcoming to all – and has been since our founding. Explain why you are interested in Syracuse University and describe a personal experience in which you persevered through adversity, rejected discrimination, learned a lesson, or were inspired by the courageous actions of others and how you will apply what you learned to our community in a positive way. * (250 words)

If you guessed that the prompt above is a Why School essay, you are correct. Primarily, your response will be a Why Syracuse essay. As such, you must identify specific reasons you want to attend Syracuse. 

However, this essay prompt could also arguably be categorized as a community essay. Why? The second half of the prompt asks you about a personal experience that taught you something that you can contribute to the Syracuse community. Your personal experience can be an inclusive action you took or witnessed someone else take that taught you an important lesson. Successful Syracuse supplemental essays will be specific about the experience and the lesson itself.

Indeed, there is a lot of ground to cover in your Why Syracuse essay. In the next section, we will cover tips for ensuring you ace your Syracuse essay.

How to write Syracuse supplemental essays

Writing Syracuse supplemental essays can be challenging. As we shared above, the Syracuse essay prompts are unique in that they ask you to accomplish several tasks in 250 words. First, you must share why you want to attend Syracuse. Second, you must share a personal story in which you learned a lesson about creating an inclusive community. And lastly, you must share how you hope to apply this lesson while at Syracuse. 

Before you get overwhelmed by the Syracuse University supplemental essays, review these tips for how to write your Why Syracuse essay:

1. Research Syracuse

The first step in writing a Why School essay is to make sure you know about the school. Take some time to research Syracuse using the school’s website, reliable sources like U.S. News and Forbes , and reading student reviews like the ones on Niche . Once you are familiar with the school’s culture, academics, and unique resources, you can write an essay that speaks to your unique interests.

2. Be specific

In this Why Syracuse essay, it is important to be specific about what aspects of Syracuse you are drawn to. Furthermore, you should provide details when explaining your lesson-learning experience. What is the lesson? How will you apply it to your experience at Syracuse? Rather than speaking generally about how you value community, include details such as dialogue, description, or thoughts that are not clichés. With these details, your Why Syracuse essay will surely stand out amongst the thousands of Syracuse supplemental essays that admissions officers read each year.

3. Answer all parts of the prompt

As we have noted several times, the Why Syracuse essay also asks you to identify a specific moment where you learned an important lesson about community. Once you have drafted your essay, make sure you check that it responds to all parts of the prompt. Syracuse supplemental essays that only answer part of the Why Syracuse essay prompts will be unsuccessful in making a compelling case.

4. Edit for conciseness

With only 250 words to answer a complex prompt, you’ll need to ensure that every word in your Why School essay serves a purpose. Ask a trusted mentor or teacher to read your Why Syracuse essay and cut out any unnecessary words or phrases. Also, be sure to edit for grammatical correctness. As much as your Syracuse supplemental essays are about showcasing your personality and ideas, they are also a chance to demonstrate your writing skills.

5. Start early

To ensure you can complete all these steps without stress, start writing your Syracuse University supplemental essays as early as possible. You can begin researching and brainstorming ideas as early as your sophomore or junior year of high school. That way, when the Syracuse essay prompts are available in the summer before your senior year, you’ll be ready to jump right into writing your Syracuse supplemental essays. 

For additional tips for writing your Syracuse supplemental essays, check out this Syracuse article . These tips are useful for writing both the Syracuse supplemental essays and your personal statement.

Now that we have explored how to write successful Syracuse University supplemental essays, let’s look at additional requirements for specific programs at Syracuse.

College-specific Syracuse Requirements

At Syracuse University, there are 13 distinct schools and colleges. As we mentioned, there is only one school-specific essay requirement at Syracuse. However, some schools may require applicants to write multiple Syracuse supplemental essays. Applicants to the School of Architecture, the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences will have additional requirements.

Below is a chart that summarizes the Syracuse requirements for specific schools: 

Note that only one school requires an additional essay. If you are considering applying to one of these schools, reach out to learn more about these requirements . Most importantly, start preparing early so that you can submit all the necessary materials to your program of interest in a timely and organized fashion.

A Note on Standardized Testing

For Fall 2024 admissions, Syracuse University does not require students to submit standardized test scores. In fact, Syracuse joins the many universities that have gone test-optional in recent years. With fewer schools requiring the submission of SAT and ACT scores, essays play an even larger role in schools’ holistic review processes. 

That being said, students who do not wish to submit SAT or ACT scores will have other parts of their application, such as the Syracuse supplemental essays, weighted more heavily in the review process. As such, it is extra important to put your full effort into writing the best possible Syracuse University supplemental essays. 

Syracuse Architecture Program Requirements

One of the special opportunities that draws many applicants to Syracuse is its architecture program. For students interested in a career in architecture , Syracuse University’s architecture program is one of the best in New York State. Architecture is a career that requires a unique set of skills, including artistic talent, creativity, discipline, and adeptness at math and science. Strong architecture programs require multiple studio classes and often have a rigid curriculum, with little room for electives or exploration. 

As such, applying to Syracuse’s Bachelor in Architecture program will require submitting a portfolio . The portfolio includes an additional statement about your interest in a career in architecture and samples of your best artwork. 

Undeniably, the Syracuse acceptance rate for architecture will be even more competitive than the regular admissions rate. Therefore, it is key that your portfolio represents your greatest effort. Spend time writing an architecture personal statement that gives compelling reasons for why you want to study this multifaceted major. Select artwork that is original and represents your unique style. Lastly, attend one of the architecture school’s open houses or events to learn more about the program and how you can make your application stand out.

For those not applying to Syracuse’s architecture program, you might be wondering how important your Syracuse supplemental essays are in the Syracuse admissions process. We will explore just that next.

Syracuse essays and admissions

At this point, it’s normal to be wondering how important the Syracuse supplemental essays are when it comes to evaluating a Syracuse application. In short, the Syracuse supplemental essays are extremely important in the admissions process. Indeed, your Why Syracuse essay is a critical part of your application for several reasons.

For one, the Syracuse acceptance rate is selective. As one of the best schools in New York , Syracuse draws many competitive applicants each year. When schools are selective, they look carefully at all parts of the application to ensure they are selecting the best candidates for their institution. As a liberal arts institution, Syracuse is bound to value the way you think and write in their admissions process.

Secondly, Syracuse uses a holistic admissions process. As a result, they consider many aspects of your profile, from your grades to recommendation letters to your Why Syracuse essay. Each piece of the application puzzle gives the admissions team pertinent information when evaluating an applicant’s candidacy. Indeed, even a student with strong grades can be denied admission if their Why Syracuse essay shows little effort. 

Finally, Syracuse is an institution that values creating a diverse campus climate. When evaluating an applicant, Syracuse admissions officers are looking for more than academic preparedness, character, and purpose. They want to ensure they admit a class with a range of life experiences and skills. For this reason, the Why Syracuse essay prompt specifically asks how you learned a lesson that can help contribute to an inclusive community. As such, this essay is geared towards admitting applicants who will continue Syracuse’s legacy of being a welcoming campus. 

Read more about what Syracuse is looking for in its applicants here .

A Note on Deadlines

Syracuse offers two early decision deadlines , which are the same whether you apply via the Common App or Coalition App. The first is November 15 th and the second is January 5 th . If you are very confident you want to attend Syracuse, you might wish to take advantage of one of these deadlines. In fact, doing so has the potential to increase your odds of admission. Keep in mind, however, that these deadlines are binding, meaning that you are committing to attend if you are admitted. 

Also, applying Early Decision does not mean you don’t have to write strong essays. If your intended deadline is November 15 th , plan to research, draft, and revise your Why Syracuse essay well in advance of this date. Just because there aren’t multiple Syracuse essay prompts, doesn’t mean the essay writing process is quick. Preparing early will not only relieve some of the stress of the college application process, but it will also increase the odds that you are giving your best effort. 

As you prepare to write your Why Syracuse essay, you might be wondering what the school is best known for. In the next section, we will explore some of the highlights of Syracuse University.

What is Syracuse University known for?

As we have shared, Syracuse University is a selective private institution. Still, you may be wondering what specifically Syracuse is known for and how a Syracuse education compares to other competitive schools. In fact, understanding the university and its values will be extremely useful when writing your Why Syracuse essay.

Here are a few highlights of what Syracuse University is known for: 

Rigorous liberal arts education

Syracuse is known for offering a liberal arts curriculum, meaning that students have the flexibility to choose from a range of courses among 200 majors and 100 minors. 

Research excellence

According to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Syracuse is an R1 research institution. As such, it is known for offering doctorate programs and receiving millions of dollars in research grants each year. 

Special programs

As we saw above, Syracuse offers specialized programs in architecture, engineering, and the arts. Some of these programs are among the best in the nation and draw applicants from around the world.

Study abroad programs

Syracuse is ranked #9 for study abroad programs in U.S. News. Through over 100 programs, students can access language exchange, internships, homestays, and seminars around the globe. Syracuse also has campus centers in Italy, Spain, and France, where students who are part of the Discovery Program can spend their first semester of college immersed in a new country.

Orange pride

Few schools are associated with color as strongly as Syracuse is with the color orange. From watching Otto the Orange cheer on sports teams to celebrating National Orange Day, Syracuse students wear the color orange as one of their most important traditions .

When writing your Why Syracuse essay, you might wish to include references to some of these special facets of the Syracuse experience. As long as you’re specific, what you write about matters less than its meaning to you. Therefore, regardless of which aspects of the Syracuse experience you choose to highlight, be sure that they are authentically important to you.

Syracuse Supplemental Essays: Final Takeaways

In this guide to the Syracuse supplemental essays, we explored the Syracuse essay prompts in detail. Specifically, we broke down the meaning of a Why School essay so that hopeful applicants can write their Why Syracuse supplemental essays with confidence.

Since the Syracuse acceptance rate is not extraordinarily high, it is important to put your full effort into the Syracuse supplemental essays. Remember that the Syracuse supplemental essays are your chance to stand out among many applicants. Your essays offer the opportunity to share parts of your experience and character that align with Syracuse’s values and culture. 

Undoubtedly, there is no clear formula for how to get into Syracuse. However, your Why Syracuse essay can offer information that does not exist anywhere else on your application. Take the time to reflect upon your experiences so you can showcase the most compelling parts of your personality.

Lastly, at the point of applying to college, your Why Syracuse essay is one of the few application components that you can control. While your grades may have suffered in an earlier year or you may not have been able to join the extracurriculars you wanted, you now have the opportunity to make your Why Syracuse essay extraordinary. Make the most of this valuable space on your application. 

If you are feeling stressed throughout the college process, remember that you are not alone. When you find that you are struggling to write your Why Syracuse essay, reach out for help. Whether you are talking to a teacher or a CollegeAdvisor admissions specialist, there are many people who can support you with writing your Syracuse supplemental essays. With effort and guidance, you are sure to find your way to the campus of your dreams.

This essay guide was written by Courtney Ng . 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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College essay resources

Passion and contribution: how to write the syracuse supplement | 2022-23, school supplements.

Bex Ehrmann

The Syracuse supplement will paint a vivid picture of who you are and why you’re passionate about attending Syracuse University. Let’s start by taking a look at the prompt:

Please be sure to respond to both parts of the following question: Why are you interested in Syracuse University and how do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive, and respectful campus community? (250-word limit)

This prompt gives you the opportunity to describe your academic goals, showcase your values, and explain how you hope to engage with other students. Here’s how to get a strong start on your Syracuse supplement!

Step One: Brainstorm

Take a second to flex your wrists. You’re about to do some freewriting! Reflect on these questions and jot down any stories or ideas that come to mind.

Part 1 : Think back on the moment you decided to apply to Syracuse. What convinced you that you could call Syracuse home for four years? If you found out tomorrow that you got in, what would you be most excited about? What educational goals will you pursue there?

Part 2: Now, let’s think about community. What role do you play in the communities you call home? How do your actions make these communities more inclusive? In college, what kind of role do you want to play in the communities you join?

Step Two: Connect

In order to effectively answer the prompt, you’ll need to connect your goals for the future to specific resources and opportunities at Syracuse. Comb through Syracuse’s website to learn about its classes, professors, extracurriculars, and community, and jot down some resources that align with your vision of the future!

Let’s take a look at an example student’s profile:

• Wants to work for a studio like Pixar or Dreamworks after graduation
• Character Development for Animation course
• Visual Effects workshop
• Advocates  for women and girls
• Equal Time magazine
• The Menstrual Information Network Teaching Empowerment Project

Step Three: Core Message

Your essay will be most effective if you can draw a connection between your academic goals and the contributions you want to make to Syracuse’s community. 

Let’s take the student from the above example. Her core message could be something like:

• “Through my work in animation, I hope to create empowering female heroes to inspire the next generation of girls. At Syracuse, I will develop my technical abilities in the classroom and become an advocate for women and girls through my extracurricular activities.”

After developing a strong core message, you’ll have all the tools you need to write a strong Syracuse essay!

Note: This article focuses on the mandatory Syracuse supplement. You’ll also need to write a killer Common Application essay , and present an activities list . The following programs require additional essays/portfolios:

• Citizenship and Civic Engagement Program (250-word essay)
• Discovery Program (250-word essay)
• School of Architecture/Art/Design (portfolio required)
• Department of Drama (portfolio required for non-performance majors)

Happy writing!

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Apply to Syracuse University

Thank you for your interest in Syracuse University!

Applying is easy and only takes minutes using the Common Application or the Coalition Application, powered by Scoir.

Use the Common Application or Coalition Application to apply if you are a:

• Domestic first-year or transfer student
• International first-year or transfer student

Part-time on-campus or online undergraduate study is also available.

Graduate Students Interested in applying to a graduate program? Explore deadlines and get started on your application.

Veteran and Military Connected Students Veteran and military-connected students are encouraged to fill out our military specific application.

Application Deadlines

Be aware of the application deadlines for individual programs and enrollment options.

Already Applied?

You will receive an email confirmation from the University once your application is received. This can take up to 3-4 days from the time you submit your application. Once we process your application you will receive an email from Syracuse University with a temporary PIN and link to access your Syracuse University Applicant Portal. You will be able to check your application status via your portal. If you have not received confirmation after two weeks, you are welcome to email [email protected] to have someone in the office check for you. Please note: Syracuse University will begin uploading applications from the Common Application and Scoir in early September. If you submit your application prior to Sept. 1, it may be a few weeks before you receive confirmation.

Your admission to Syracuse University is contingent upon maintaining the same level of academic achievement, graduating from secondary school and having a record of good citizenship at all times. The University expects our students to conduct themselves in a manner that aligns with and is supportive of the educational mission of the institution. Integrity, respect for others and a commitment to intellectual and personal growth within a diverse, global society are fundamental to membership in this University community. Civic engagement is strongly encouraged. Admissions decisions will not be affected by participation in or disciplinary action associated with peaceful, meaningful protest.

How To Apply

1. review our enrollment options and application deadlines.

Prospective students have three  enrollment options to choose from. After deciding on an enrollment plan, it is important to review  application deadlines because they differ depending on your program and enrollment option of choice. 

2. View your application checklist

3. complete your application.

Select Syracuse University as a choice of school. Complete the Common Application or Coalition Application powered by Scoir, and submit to Syracuse University.

You may find it helpful to review what we look for in our applicants .

• Fee Waiver: We strive to support all students and families who wish to apply to Syracuse University. If you present a financial hardship and are interested in a fee waiver, please have your school counselor request an application fee waiver. This request must come in writing on school letterhead and may be submitted as a PDF to [email protected]. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
• Optional First Semester Abroad: Applicants to the College of Arts and Sciences have the option of applying for Discovery Programs that allow students to spend the fall semester of their freshman year in Florence, Madrid or Strasbourg. Applicants to the College of Engineering and Computer Science have the option of spending the fall semester of their freshman year in Madrid. If you wish to apply for a Discovery Program, select "Yes" in the drop-down menu on the application. An additional Discovery Program application supplement is required and will be sent to you via email after you submit your application.
• Veterans: Please use the veterans and military-connected students online application .

Begin your Common Application .

Begin your Coalition Application .

4. Check to see if your college requires any additional materials

View our college-specific application requirements to determine if you need to submit any additional materials.

If you need to send additional application materials to Syracuse University, please use the appropriate application mailing address . 

5. Send your standardized test scores to Syracuse University

SAT/ACT scores will not be required for students applying for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 admission.

Read more information on the extension of this policy.

Students who choose to submit SAT or ACT scores may share either self-reported or official scores. Students who self-report their scores will not be required to submit official score reports unless they are admitted and choose to enroll.

To self-report your test scores, you may do so via the Common Application or Coalition Application. Please submit your scores exactly as you receive them and we will superscore them.

To share your official SAT or ACT scores, please use the following codes:

Also of Interest

First-Year Requirements

If you are currently enrolled in or have graduated from an accredited secondary school, please apply as a first-year student.

Transfer Requirements

If you enrolled in an institution of higher education as a full-time student after graduating from secondary school and received graded credit in academic coursework, please apply as a transfer student.

Part-Time Study

We offer more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, most of which can be completed part time and on campus.

International Requirements

You're considered an international student if you are not a U.S. citizen, a dual citizen with the U.S., or a permanent resident of the U.S.

Veterans and Military Admissions

We’re grateful for your service and stand ready to assist you in making the transition from boots to books! Whether you’re looking to take courses part time, full time or online, we’ll help you find the flexibility you need to create the best path to your future.

Undergraduate Majors and Minors

Choose from more than 200 majors and over 100 minors and embrace the interdisciplinary nature of Syracuse University’s academic options.

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Syracuse University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college short response.

Syracuse University is a place that seeks to be welcoming to all – and has been since our founding. Explain why you are interested in Syracuse University and describe a personal experience in which you persevered through adversity, rejected discrimination, learned a lesson, or were inspired by the courageous actions of others and how you will apply what you learned to our community in a positive way.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

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 a 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?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF CREATIVE EXCELLENCE 1873 — 2023

Department of Film and Media Arts

The Department of Film and Media Arts is a major academic center for the education of contemporary artists and media arts professionals.

The centerpiece of the department’s undergraduate curriculum is a four-year core program that emphasizes collaborative and interdisciplinary practice, innovative thinking, and a critical understanding of new technologies. Students emerge from the Department of Film and Media Arts highly skilled in their individual disciplines, ready to tackle the demands of contemporary art and commerce.

American Film Schools (10th consecutive year)

–The Hollywood Reporter

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– U.S. News & World Report

Private Animation Schools (U.S.)

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Hands-On Learning Experiences

In addition to work in the classroom and studio, film and media arts students can benefit from arts organizations on campus and in the Syracuse community. The department is a sponsor of the annual Syracuse International Film Festival and closely collaborates with Light Work , an internationally recognized artist-in-residence program housed on campus, and the Urban Video Project , which commissions artists to create artworks for outdoor projection on the Everson Museum of Art in downtown Syracuse. Housed within the department is also The Canary Lab , which develops research-based art and media focused on ecology.

Global Study Programs Tailored To Your Degree

Global study programs specially designed for students in film and media arts include semester-long programs in London, England; Prague, Czech Republic; and Florence, Italy. Summer programs offer additional opportunities to study in Bologna, Italy; Venice, Italy; Santiago, Chile; and Moscow, Russia. Students may also apply to participate in the VPA LA Semester, which offers internship-based learning in Los Angeles. See all VPA global study options .

Learn from Professionals

The faculty members in film and media arts are working artists with active careers. World-wide exhibitions, from LA to South Africa, and screenings among the faculty include the J. Paul Getty Museum , Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival (France), Shanghai International Film Festival (China), Viña del Mar International Film Festival (Chile), the Museum of Modern Art , Ars Electronica , the Brooklyn Museum, Pacific Film Archive and Harvard to name a few. Grants and awards include the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacDowell Colony, and the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).

Where Our Graduates Work

An ever-growing network of alumni can help students succeed with careers in the film industry as producers, directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, animators, and special effects design; in photography with magazine, editorial, fashion, and book publication; as curators in fine art galleries and contemporary art museums; and, of course, as practicing artists.

Film and media arts alumni have leadership positions in the creative industry, including:

• DreamWorks, Pixar, Sony Pictures
• Yahoo and Apple
• Cosmopolitan, Photo District News
• Showtime and HBO
• The Museum of Modern Art
• Artsy.com and Net-a-Porter.com
• Spelman College, University of Houston, Pratt Institute

Graduates of our program have exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art, MIT List Center, the New Museum, and the Houston Center for Photography and have held screenings at Sundance, MOMA, and such international venues as Oberhausen Short Film Festival, Berlin’s Transmediale Festival, Slamdance International Film Festival, and the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam.

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• Art Photography B.F.A.
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• Computer Art and Animation B.F.A.
• Film B.F.A.

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How to Write the Williams College Essays 2020-2021

Found in rustic, western Massachusetts, Williams College is a small liberal arts college known for its stellar undergraduate education. With a tight knit community of 2,000 students, Williams boasts a 7:1 student to faculty ratio and offers 36 different majors. Williams was founded in 1793, and through its 227 year history, it has accrued deep traditions, such as a school-wide Mountain Day, in which students hike up nearby Mount Greylock. 

Williams College has consistently been ranked by US News as the number one liberal arts college in America. The college is also highly selective, and for the class of 2023, only 13% of applicants were accepted (most recent official stats). Williams alumni are also diverse, ranging from President James Garfield to composer Stephen Sondheim to photographer Walker Evans. 

A key aspect of the Williams application lies in the strength of your supplemental essay, which gives the admissions committee a more personal look at your profile, and we’ve broken down each essay prompt below! Want to know your chances at Williams? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what Williams College will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Williams College needs to know.

How to Write the Williams College Supplemental Essays

This is an opportunity for you to present another writing sample. It’s entirely optional, and you can either respond to one of the prompts below in an essay of no more than 300 words, or you can upload an academic paper (preferably in the humanities or social sciences) completed in the last academic year.

Option 1: The first-year Entry—a thoughtfully constructed residential microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience—brings together students from around the world with different perspectives, interests and backgrounds. Imagine having a late-night conversation with your Entrymates about a community that you value. Describe that community and why it’s important to you.

Option 2: All-Campus Entertainment (ACE), a student organization, hosts a weekly event called “Stressbusters”—an opportunity for students to focus on self-care by stepping away from their typical routine and enjoying some unscheduled time—and snacks!—with friends. Weekly Stressbuster activities might include a concert, playing with a therapy dog, painting pumpkins, building with Legos, etc. What’s your version of a “stressbuster,” and how does it help you rejuvenate in the midst of a hectic week?

Option 3: At Williams, we believe that bringing together students and professors in small groups produces extraordinary academic outcomes. Our distinctive Oxford-style tutorial classes—in which two students are guided by a professor in deep exploration of a single topic—are a prime example. Each week the students take turns developing independent work—an essay, a problem set, a piece of art—and critiquing their partner’s work. Focused on close reading, writing and oral defense of ideas, more than 60 pre-determined tutorials a year are offered across the curriculum. Imagine yourself in a tutorial at Williams. What topic would you be most excited to study in that setting and why?

Option 4: I would like to upload my own essay (from a humanities or social science course and ideally 3-5 pages in length).

The first-year Entry—a thoughtfully constructed residential microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience—brings together students from around the world with different perspectives, interests and backgrounds. Imagine having a late-night conversation with your Entrymates about a community that you value. Describe that community and why it’s important to you. (300 words)

In this essay, you want to first brainstorm the communities that have been valuable to you growing up, any community that has been formative for you as a person. This can be a cultural or ethnic community, a family, a sports team, a musical ensemble, a neighborhood, an online community, or a workplace. The key simply is to bring this community alive in your essay, illustrate how much it means to you, and show how you’ve given back to it. 

You want to show the admissions committee passion and commitment to groups and organizations that you’re invested in, just as you would in a freshman residential community. Then, you could look toward the future, toward your time at Williams, and talk about wanting to meet people outside of your own bubbles, and have intimate conversations with people from all over the world. 

Williams College consistently admits students from the vast majority of states in America, as well as from over 30 countries worldwide, so their commitment to diversity is deep. As a result, you want to think about what perspective you would uniquely bring to the Williams Entry, what kinds of conversations you could contribute to foster a diverse community. There’s enough space to also think critically about the communities you’ve been a part of, and think through the different problems that you had to undergo while being a part of them. 

Here are a few different examples for you to think about:

• Maybe you have been committed to your Indian Bhangra team for the past four years. You could talk about the technical aspects of your work, such as choreographing dances, organizing practices, and putting on performances. However, you could also dive into the most difficult parts of your commitment, such as the time a dance wasn’t coming together leading up to the concert, or dealing with a sudden drop out in your group, or having communication issues within the team. Through these experiences, you could talk about drawing closer to your team, as well as feeling closer to your own Indian heritage through dance and performance.
• Maybe you’ve been shaped by your environmental surroundings, being from Idaho. You could talk about how you never grew up in a city or a large community, but spent most of your time with your family and friends hiking mountains and going camping. You could talk about how as an Idahoan, you have come to value land conservation, indigenous rights, and an overall respect for the places you inhabit. You could illustrate for the reader the beautiful scenery that surrounded you growing up, the thrill of looking out from a mountaintop, and the difficulties of living outdoors. 
• Maybe you’re not American, and grew up in Brazil. You could talk about your own local customs and culture, how it differs from the stereotypes of Americans you have grown up hearing. Maybe your interest is primarily in politics, and so you envision having long conversations that compare the Brazilian government to the American government, and how race relations operate in both countries. 

All-Campus Entertainment (ACE), a student organization, hosts a weekly event called “Stressbusters”—an opportunity for students to focus on self-care by stepping away from their typical routine and enjoying some unscheduled time — and snacks! — with friends. Weekly Stressbuster activities might include a concert, playing with a therapy dog, painting pumpkins, building with Legos, etc. What’s your version of a “stressbuster,” and how does it help you rejuvenate in the midst of a hectic week? (300 words)

There’s many different ways in which you can approach this essay, and it’s certainly a bit more left field than prompts one and three, but if done right, this essay can shine an equal amount of light on your character, personality, and passions. However, this essay is a bit tricky, because you want to answer the prompt and talk about the ways in which you relieve stress, but you also want to show the admissions committee a deeper picture of yourself as a person. Therefore, you should try to avoid a simplistic response, like “I binge Netflix,” without a bit more depth into your own struggles and passions as a person. 

You can be as open as you want to be, talking about stress relief side by side with your daily stresses, flipping back and forth between the difficulties and the pleasures of your daily life. Ideally, your stressbuster could also be a hobby or activity you love to do, but just don’t have enough time to pursue. Or maybe your stressbuster is an extracurricular activity, and you’ve been struggling over the difficulty in enjoying it, while being pushed to excel in it. It’s critical that you drive the essay towards not what you do, but who you are. 

Here are a few examples for you to think about:

• Maybe your stress reliever is playing the cello, but you have a particularly complicated relationship with that because playing the cello also brings you stress. You want to both excel in the instrument, winning competitions and helping your school orchestra, but also want to keep it as a hobby that brings you joy. You can talk about the times it’s been a relief, maybe when you play a certain song you love, but also dive into the times when it’s caused stress and pain in your life. 
• Maybe your destresser is watching food channels on YouTube, which not only makes you more hungry, but has also instilled within you a curiosity about the different food cultures across the world. Maybe there’s a few particular YouTubers you follow closely, which has inspired you to create your own YouTube channel, and spread joy through cooking videos of your own. Making the videos turned out to be hard work, but you found joy through seeing other people respond positively to your content. 
• Maybe your hobby is building model airplanes, which you’ve been doing with your father since you were a child. You could talk about how despite everything else changing in your life, school getting much more difficult, and witnessing different familial troubles, you’ve never stopped working on model airplanes with your dad, and it’s been a soothing and reliable activity for you. 

At Williams, we believe that bringing together students and professors in small groups produces extraordinary academic outcomes. Our distinctive Oxford-style tutorial classes—in which two students are guided by a professor in deep exploration of a single topic—are a prime example. Each week the students take turns developing independent work—an essay, a problem set, a piece of art—and critiquing their partner’s work. Focused on close reading, writing and oral defense of ideas, more than 60 pre-determined tutorials a year are offered across the curriculum. Imagine yourself in a tutorial at Williams. What topic would you be most excited to study in that setting and why? (300 words)

First, you want to brainstorm the kinds of academic fields you’re interested in, and it’ll be even better if you have past experiences studying the topic. Then, you want to choose a specific sub-topic in the particular field you chose: if you want to study English, you could choose a particular author, or literary movement, or genre of writing. If you want to study chemistry, you could choose anything from thermal dynamics to quantum mechanics to inorganic chemistry. 

The key here is to be able to both talk about a specific topic, as well as shed light into your own character, passions, and desires for your future education. You want to show the readers what you’d bring to the table in an academic discussion, and how you would engage with difficult academic questions. 

You should also do some digging into all the different tutorials Williams offers , just to get a sense of the kinds of classes taught at Williams. The topics truly span the entire range of academic disciplines, with titles ranging from “Fictions of African American History” to “Analytic Number Theory” to “Advanced Planetary Geology.” 

Next, you want to think about why you’re excited to study the subject, and here, past anecdotes are great. If you want to do a computer science tutorial, you could talk about your own experience learning how to code and working on your side projects, but then go into how Williams takes it up to the next level, with their “Machine Learning” tutorial. You could talk about how you’re excited to work with similarly passionate people, and not only get better at the technical aspect of coding, but also dive into the ethical and societal questions suitable in a tutorial-esque setting.

Maybe you want to study history, and the topic you’d be most excited to study is the Vietnamese War, because of your own history of being the child of Vietnamese refugees. You want to get to know more about your own history and culture, as well as be able to understand your parents’ own socio-political contexts better. 

While imagining your ideal tutorial, it wouldn’t hurt to brainstorm what the class itself would look like. What kinds of materials and mediums would you be engaging with in class? What primary sources excite you? What kinds of problems would you want to solve each week? Even if you don’t include all of this in the essay, it’ll help bring the tutorial to life in your head.

I would like to upload my own essay (from a humanities or social science course and ideally 3-5 pages in length).

If you feel like a high school essay captures better the essence of who you are, rather than the aforementioned prompt options, you should go for this option. Or, you could pursue this option if you’re completely crunched for time. However, we would recommend that you pursue one of the first three options, because they are all excellent avenues for you to illustrate your personality and character, but also show to Williams that you’re committed to writing about their school. 

Ideally, if you do end up choosing this option, the essay should be grammatically tidy and free of any syntactical errors. A well argued analytic essay should do the job, but it would be even better if you had a personal essay you could use, because the main point of the supplemental essays is for the admissions committee to get to know you on a personal level.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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With The Whale , Brendan Fraser and director Darren Aronofsky attempt to harpoon grief, faith and wasted lives in small-town Moscow, Idaho

By Seth Sommerfeld

"A nd I felt saddest of all when I read the boring chapters that were only descriptions of whales, because I knew that the author was just trying to save us from his own sad story, just for a little while."

Charlie reads this passage again and again when his life-threateningly high blood pressure begins to spike. It's from an essay about Moby Dick , but the object of Captain Ahab's obsession isn't the actual source of The Whale 's title. Rather, it's a not-so-sensitive way to describe Charlie (Brendan Fraser), an online collegiate English teacher who can barely traverse his own apartment in small-town Moscow, Idaho, because of his 600-plus-pound frame. Unfortunately, Charlie can't save us from his own sad story.

The Whale is an exceedingly intimate character study written by playwright and Moscow native Samuel D. Hunter (an adaptation of his Drama Desk-winning play of the same name) and directed by Academy Award-nominated director Darren Aronofsky ( Black Swan , The Wrestler ). The story picks up as Charlie is teaching one of his classes, notably with his Zoom-like box blacked out so his students can't take in his appearance. Despite being a fierce proponent of the kids expressing honesty in their writing, he can't bear to let them see his physical form — one self-created out of tragedy and self-loathing.

After the class, Charlie is watching gay pornography on his laptop and begins to suffer a cardiac event. It just so happens this is the moment when Thomas (Ty Simpkins) shows up on his doorstep to spread the missionary good word of his New Life church. Thomas intervenes and helps lower Charlie's blood pressure by reading him the aforementioned essay, before Charlie's seemingly only friend, nurse and caretaker Liz (Hong Chau), shows up and shoos Thomas away. Liz tells Charlie he's suffering cardiac failure and will die in a matter of days if he doesn't go to the hospital, but he refuses, citing the cost of medical treatment. In the following days, Charlie reaches out to his estranged teen daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), in an attempt to reconnect despite her showing utter contempt for her father, who left her and her mother to have a relationship with one of his male students when Ellie was a child.

Cinematically, The Whale is intentionally constrained. While Aronofsky often tends to employ surrealistic elements in his films about psychological anguish, The Whale is starkly minimalist and grounded. Apart from the opening shot and a brief, hazy flashback to one of Charlie's fond memories, the story never ventures farther than the front porch of his apartment. (One can only discern it's set in Moscow via little details like the pizza delivery place, the 2016 GOP primary results flickering on Charlie's TV, and New Life being a not-so-hidden stand-in for Christ Church.) A tight 4:3 aspect ratio further makes the viewer feel like they are constrained in the small apartment just like Charlie is. Unlike many adaptations of plays for the big screen, The Whale doesn't inherently feel like a bottle story crafted to minimize set changes, as it makes narrative sense to never leave this space during what might be Charlie's final days.

When we're literally stuck in one place with these characters, acting becomes paramount, and The Whale delivers on that front. Charlie is a deeply complex character in all his flaws and beauty, and Fraser doesn't shy away from any of it, delivering a gut-wrenching performance. An optimist, Charlie has a pure love for the world that shines through in his interactions with Ellie and even the pizza guy who drops pies on his porch, but he just can't see himself as part of that goodness. It's absolutely brutal to watch the small shifts in Fraser's face when he's googling his own health conditions — deciding between positive action or intentionally worsening the problem. The film generated prerelease controversy for the fat suit Fraser wears to embody the role, but the film itself isn't an exercise in fat-shaming, though it's easy to see how people can be turned off by symbolic moments of suicidal tendencies expressed through binge eating.

The rest of the small cast also delivers. Sink plays Ellie with the angst of a kid who wants to watch the world burn down around her. She's full of hateful self-centered rudeness but also clearly was broken by her father's abandonment. Chau's Liz is vital to convey that someone cares about Charlie — even if he doesn't — providing both real warmth and exasperated rage when warranted. And Simpkins' hopelessly naive missionary manages to walk the line between goody-two-shoes and religious fanatic in a way that manages to convey both cluelessness and chilling determination.

The Whale is ultimately a harrowing look at convictions of belief and the ways in which love can be a devastating force. Even when love is beautiful and pure and joyous, it can be taken away by the choices people make. Choosing to love someone can leave a void of love in others, and sometimes that void can ultimately eat you alive from the inside. ♦