Colleges With Only One Supplemental Essay (2026-2027)
The 18 schools on our list of 115 that add exactly one prompt to the Common App personal statement, with the prompt, its limit, and the early deadlines. Verified by the AlphaApply.ai team.
Why one-essay schools matter in the fall
The schools that ask for five or six supplements set the pace of senior fall. Every one-essay school you add costs a few hours, not a weekend, so this list is where most students find their extra targets and likelies without dropping a reach. The single prompt is almost always a version of "why us" or "why this major," which means the research you do for one school's answer, the specific programs, professors, and places you would use, is the same work that makes the next answer good.
Treat the prompt as the school's only look at your writing beyond the personal statement. A short, specific answer that names two or three real things about the school beats a long general one. Paste your draft into the rater on the school's page to see how it reads before you submit.
All 18 colleges with one supplemental prompt
| College | The prompt | Limit | Early rounds | Accept rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams | Optional academic writing supplement: Williams does not require a writing supplement, but if you'd like to… (optional) | 200 words | Early Decision: November 15, 2026 | 8% |
| Hamilton College | At Hamilton, we each bring different backgrounds and perspectives, and we teach one another about the world… (optional) | 350 words | Early Decision: November 15, 2026 | 14% |
| Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt University's motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for "dare to grow." In your response, reflect on how… | 300 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 | 6% |
| UNC Chapel Hill | Optional: share why you're interested in the assured enrollment program(s) you've selected and how they align… (optional) | 500 words | Early Action: October 15, 2026 | 15% |
| UVA | Describe a health care-related experience or other significant interaction that deepened your interest in… (optional) | 300 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 17% |
| NYU | We are looking for students who want to be bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas… (optional) | 250 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 | 9% |
| Boston College | We would like to get a better sense of you. Please respond to one of the following prompts (400 word limit).… | 400 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 | 16% |
| UW Madison | Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you… | 650 words | Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 45% |
| Rutgers | Rutgers requires an original essay on the standard personal statement topics (background/identity, challenge… | 650 words | Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 58% |
| Northeastern | College of Arts, Media and Design creative portfolio personal statement (500 word limit). Describe your… (optional) | 500 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 5% |
| FSU | University Honors Program supplemental essay: Many FSU Honors students pursue double majors, often in… (optional) | 350 words | Early Decision: October 15, 2026 Early Action: October 15, 2026 | 24% |
| Villanova | For the Villanova-specific essay, choose one of the five topics below and submit a written response in about… | 300 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 27% |
| Indiana University | In 200 to 400 words, describe your academic and career plans and any special interest (for example,… (optional) | 400 words | Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 78% |
| Fordham | You may choose to answer one (1) of the optional questions below. Keep in mind that your response is a… (optional) | 300 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 59% |
| CU Boulder | What do you hope to study, and why, at CU Boulder? Or if you don't know quite yet, think about your studies… | 250 words | Early Action: November 15, 2026 | 78% |
| ASU | Barrett essay: choose one of the following prompts. (1) What is a question you find yourself returning to… (optional) | 500 words | Early Action: November 1, 2026 (priority) | 90% |
| Baylor | Early Decision applicants: What are you looking for in a university, why do you want to attend Baylor, and… (optional) | 450 words | Early Decision: November 1, 2026 Early Action: November 1, 2026 | 51% |
| UCCS | Optional essay: UCCS says essays should explain grades, any life events that might have affected academic… (optional) | 500 words | — | 97% |
Writing a "why us" essay tonight? Jim asks the questions that make it specific to you, then gives line-by-line feedback on the draft. Free to start.
Write it with JimPrompt counts reflect each school's 2026-2027 application as verified by the AlphaApply.ai team. Honors colleges, scholarships, and some majors add their own prompts; the school's page lists them.
Questions students ask
Can I reuse one "why us" essay for several schools?
The structure, yes; the content, no. Readers can tell when the specifics are generic. Keep your own story the same and replace every school-specific detail with real programs, courses, or places from that school.
Are optional supplemental essays really optional?
When a school marks its one prompt optional, skipping it is allowed but rarely wise. It is the only extra writing the school sees, and a strong answer is one of the few ways to stand out at a school with a short application.
Which colleges have no supplemental essay at all?
25 schools on our list require only the Common App personal statement. They are listed with deadlines on the no-supplemental-essays page.