whitman college supplemental essays

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Whitman College’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

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?

Colleges That Don’t Require Any Supplemental Essays

• Adelphi University
• Alaska Pacific University
• Albion College
• Alma College
• Baldwin Wallace University
• Barry University
• Bates College
• Bay Path University
• Beloit College
• Bryant University
• Butler University
• Caldwell University
• Capital University
• Centenary College of Louisiana
• Christopher Newport University
• Clarkson University
• Colby College
• College of Saint Benedict
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• Cornell College
• Cottey College
• DePaul University
• Elmira College
• Gettysburg College
• Grinnell College
• Hanover College
• Hellenic College
• Hollins University
• Hope College
• Iona University
• Juniata College
• Kenyon College
• Lyon College
• McKendree University
• Menlo College
• Middlebury College
• Northeastern University
• Northern Vermont University Johnson
• Northern Vermont University Lyndon
• Ohio State University
• Ripon College
• Pace University
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Sacred Heart University
• Salisbury University
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• SUNY Binghamton University
• Susquehanna University
• Temple University
• Trinity University
• Union College
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of Colorado Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Idaho
• University of Missouri – St. Louis
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• University of New Hampshire
• University of Rhode Island
• Wesleyan University
• Whitman College
• Wilkes University
• Woodbury University

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Category: Admissions , College Admissions , Uncategorized

Tags: Admissions , admissions help , advice , application , applying to college , college application , college applications , college essay advisors , college list , colleges , list

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More From Forbes

More than 80 colleges with no supplemental essays 2023-24.

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The college application process is daunting and time-consuming for many high school students. Most students will apply to anywhere from 5 -15 colleges, with some applying to even more than 20 schools if they apply to high-ranking schools like Ivy Leagues or competitive programs like direct medical programs.

Some colleges don't require supplemental essays, making it an easy way for students to apply to more ... [+] colleges.

While applications like the Common Application or Scoir aim to streamline the application process by allowing students to write one universal personal statement that gets sent to all schools, they likely still need to write school-specific supplemental essays. These essays can range from "why do you want to attend this school?" to "tell us about a challenge." Most students commit to months of effort to complete all their supplemental essays.

Luckily, not all schools require these additional essays, which could help students bulk up their college list without adding much more effort. Here are a few benefits of applying to schools with no supplemental essays.

• Reduced Stress - Applying to schools that don't require supplemental essays means students have less pressure on them. Instead of spending hours each week on essays, they focus on a few of their top schools that do require supplemental essays or concentrate on keeping their grades up.
• Broader Range of Schools - Despite not requiring supplemental essays, some schools on the list are high-ranking universities. By not having to write additional essays, students can also apply to a wider range of schools, whether it is a research institution like Case Western Reserve University or a liberal arts college like Grinnell University. Therefore, when students are making their final decisions on where they want to apply to college, they will have more time to decide what type of school will fit their career goals and learning abilities best.
• Helps Level The Admissions Playing Field - For students who don't think their talents are in writing but have solid grades and standardized test scores, applying to more schools that don't require supplemental essays might be advantageous. Because they aren't sending additional essays to their school, they will be primarily judged based on their personal statement, grades, extracurricular activities and standardized test scores, among other factors. Students who don't have the resources or guidance to craft compelling supplemental essays should take advantage of those universities.

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of september 2023, over 80 schools with no supplemental essays in 2023-24.

The following schools have no required supplemental essays to apply to their college. However, they might have additional essays for specific programs. For example, if a student is interested in New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Honors Program and Accelerated BS/MD program , they would be required to write two additional essays to be considered.

Some of these schools will also have optional essays that students can write. Drexel University has the following optional prompt: “Drexel is committed to preparing each new generation of students to become productive, professional and civic-minded members of the community while continuing to focus on how we can contribute to solving some of society’s greatest challenges. What do you view as a challenge facing society that you would like to contribute to solving? How would a Drexel education aid you in taking the first step toward a solution? (250 words or less).” While it can give students who write these optional prompts a competitive edge because it can help demonstrate interest in the school, it isn’t required.

When adding these schools to your list, make sure to review the requirements before you apply.

• Albion College
• Allegheny College
• Augusta University
• Bates College
• Case Western Reserve University
• Clemson University
• Coe College
• Colby College
• Colgate University
• College of the Holy Cross
• Denison University
• DePaul University
• Dillard University
• Drew University
• Drexel University
• Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Florida State University
• Fordham University
• Franklin and Marshall College
• Furman University
• Gannon University
• Gettysburg College
• Grinnell College
• Hamilton College
• Hampshire College
• Hanover College
• Hollins University
• Howard University
• Indiana University - Bloomington
• Kent State University
• Kenyon College
• Louisiana State University
• Mercer University
• Miami University
• Michigan State University
• Middlebury College
• Muhlenberg College
• New College of Florida
• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• New York Institute of Technology
• Northeastern University
• Nova Southeastern University
• Oberlin College
• Ohio State University
• Ripon College
• Rhodes College
• Rowan University
• St. Lawrence University
• St. Mary’s University (San Antonio)
• Seton Hall University
• Siena College
• Skidmore College
• Stony Brook University
• Sewanee: The University of the South
• Susquehanna University
• Temple University
• Union College
• University of Alabama
• University of Albany
• University of Arkansas
• University of Arizona
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado-Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dayton
• University of Delaware
• University of Denver
• University of Houston
• University of Iowa
• University of Kansas
• University of Kentucky
• University of Massachusetts-Amherst
• University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• University of New Hampshire
• University of the Pacific
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of South Alabama
• University of South Florida
• University of Toledo
• University of Vermont
• Wesleyan University
• Whitman College
• Williams College

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whitman supplement essay

<p>I’m not sure if this essay really answers the question: What is your concept of diversity, and what experiences have informed your thoughts. If anyone would give me some feedback, that’s be good.</p>

<p>other comments appreciated too.</p>

<p>sure. PM me</p>

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Add Project Key Words

Colleges that Don't Require Supplemental Essays

Padya Paramita

May 9, 2022

As you prepare for the college admissions cycle, you might be tempted to add schools to your list that require less work than others. While some schools like Yale have over five supplemental essays, there are colleges that have none! So, we offer you a list of colleges that don’t require supplemental essays . Although most colleges definitely want to see students answer school-specific prompts to determine fit, there are several top colleges that don’t require supplemental essays , including Williams, Middlebury, and Northeastern. Take a look at the full list below.

Liberal Arts Colleges that Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

• Albion College
• Allegheny College
• Bates College
• Beloit College
• Coe College
• Colby College
• Colgate University
• College of the Holy Cross
• Connecticut College 
• Denison University
• DePauw University 
• Dickinson University
• Drew University
• Franklin and Marshall College
• Furman University
• Gettysburg College 
• Goucher College
• Grinnell College
• Hamilton College
• Hanover College
• Hollins University
• Hope College
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Juniata College
• Kenyon College
• Middlebury College
• Muhlenberg College
• New College of Florida 
• Oberlin College
• Rhodes College
• Ripon College
• Sewanee—University of the South
• Siena College 
• Skidmore College
• Spelman College
• St. John’s College (essay optional except for Pharmacy program)
• St. Lawrence University
• Susquehanna University 
• Thomas Aquinas College
• Union College
• Ursinus College
• Wesleyan University (there are essays only for international students)
• Whitman College
• Willamette University
• Williams College

National Universities That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

• Binghamton University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Clark University
• Clemson University
• DePaul University
• Drexel University
• Florida State University 
• Gonzaga University
• Miami University—Oxford
• Michigan State University
• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Northeastern University
• Ohio State University
• Purdue University
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stony Brook University  (Honors College has essay requirement)
• SUNY Buffalo
• Temple University
• Tulane University
• University of Alabama
• University of Arkansas
• University of Colorado -Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Dayton 
• University of Delaware
• University of Denver
• University of Iowa
• University of Minnesota
• University of Nebraska—Lincoln
• University of New Hampshire 
• University of the Pacific
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of St. Thomas

How to Successfully Apply to Colleges That Don’t Require Supplemental Essays

So, since you don’t have to write essays, how exactly do you convince admissions officers that you’re a strong applicant? You must take advantage of the following components:

• Personal Statement - The personal statement is a common essay that goes to all of the colleges you apply to within one application system—and colleges that don’t require supplemental essays are no exception to this rule. The most common of these are the Common App personal statement prompts. You only have to write about one of the prompts provided by the Common App. The word limit is 650 words, which is a scant number to narrate a powerful story without leaving out too many important details. At the end of the day, you can write about anything, as long as it tells a story unique to you.
• Activities List - When it comes to building a strong extracurricular activities list, it’s important to prioritize your passions, career interests, and ways to establish yourself as a leader. Prestigious colleges want to see tangible achievements and commitment towards activities you enjoy. And if you see a gap in the activities at your school, or find an opportunity to involve a greater community, don’t be afraid to start your own initiative! Once you’ve built your extracurricular profile, make sure you take advantage of the Common App activities list and describe what you did in order of impressiveness.
• Letters of Recommendation - A college recommendation letter is a note from someone who knows you well in an academic or professional setting, highlighting your best qualities and why they recommend you for a position or institution you’re applying for. For most cases, colleges require letters of recommendation from two teachers, one from your guidance counselor, and provide the option of one additional recommendation that could come from a coach or club advisor. They should be written by teachers who know you the best. 

Now that you have an idea of which fall among colleges that don’t require supplemental essays , you can carefully conduct research to make sure you want to apply—and would genuinely be happy there. Don’t just blindly apply to schools just because there are fewer essay requirements. But, these should save you some time in terms of the essay load so take advantage of these if you want to add some targets or safeties as well. Happy searching!

Tags : applying to college , supplemental essays , college essays , Colleges that Don't Require Supplemental Essays , no supplemental essays , colleges with no essays

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Extracurriculars.

List of All U.S. Colleges with a Film Major

Film majors study the history and practice of filmmaking. College programs focus on giving students a holistic education, incorporating theory, still photography, editing, and practical production skills. 

In this post, we’ll discuss what to look for when you’re choosing a film program, which U.S. colleges have a film major, and your chances of getting accepted to the program of your choice.

Overview of Film Major

Film majors usually begin their studies with introductory courses that lay out the core concepts and practices in production, writing, and theory—all of which approach the medium of film from a different vantage point. Once students have been exposed to foundational ideas and processes, they can take courses in more specific topics: 

• Sound design
• Lighting design
• Cinematography
• Critical approaches (i.e., feminism, realism, structuralism, psychoanalysis, cultural studies)

Some schools require students to choose a focus within the field in order to hone their skills, while others allow students to mix and match based on their own personal agendas.

What Does It Take to Succeed as a Film Major?

In general, film majors should understand the manifold nature of filmmaking and film studies. Because a film is made up of so many moving parts (literally), creating one is a vast undertaking, requiring a team effort, several pieces of equipment, settings or props, and editing to put it all together seamlessly.

Since film is a combination of several media forms, it’s important for film majors to thrive in an interdisciplinary environment, at least understanding (and preferably having practical experience in) all aspects of production.

The multimedia nature of film also means that there are a lot of technical skills involved in creating a film. Film majors should be comfortable with and highly motivated to learn technical skills. Those who lack technical aptitude might be able to focus on the screenwriting and theoretical aspects of film studies, but most film programs require all majors to take production courses.

One of the most important skills a film major can have is being able to work collaboratively. Films are a group effort; during production, each person’s individual role is fragmentary—satisfaction comes from the final product that emerges from a cooperative effort.

Finally, majoring in film requires a strong work ethic. Creating a film is a big time commitment that doesn’t always go according to schedule. When things go wrong, patience and problem-solving make troubleshooting and adapting much easier.

What About Grad School?

Because there is no single career path for a film major, the decision to go to grad school is largely personal. 

Film majors who focus on theory might be more inclined to go to grad school, or even make a career in academia. Otherwise, they may choose careers more geared towards humanities majors.

But the bulk of film majors aspire to careers in the film and television industry. In this case, it’s all about getting as much experience as possible. A degree is only worth what it provides in terms of training and practical experience. Going to grad school is useful for anyone looking for more specialized training or opportunities to build a portfolio.

What Can I Do With a Film Major?

Most film majors go on to careers in the film and television industry. Common roles include Director, Producer, Set Designer, Editor, Director of Photography, AV Technician, and Production Manager. These jobs have average or better projected growth.

What to Look for in a College as a Film Major

• Course offerings that allow for both a broad foundation and specialized training
• Hands-on approach to production courses
• Networking, internship, and experiential learning opportunities
• Resources, labs, studios, equipment, and funding/support for projects
• Access to archives
• Versatile location for shooting
• Filmmaking community (both academic and extracurricular)
• Professors who are industry experts

List of All U.S. Colleges With a Film Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Undergraduate film programs don’t typically require students to have any special film-related qualifications prior to application. Instead, grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and essays will determine the likelihood of acceptance.

• Most selective schools first screen applicants by their grades and test scores using a tool called the Academic Index . It is therefore important that your numbers fit or surpass those of previously admitted students.
• If your quantitative data looks good, the next step is to make sure your extracurricular activities and essay topics demonstrate that you’re a good fit for the school and film major. While it’s not necessary by any means, having a portfolio of film-related work can help your overall application and might give you an edge over other applicants who intend to study film.

If you want to know your personal chances of acceptance, we recommend using our Chancing Engine (it’s free). Unlike other calculators, it takes into account a large portion of your individual profile, including academic stats and more qualitative factors like extracurriculars.

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Summer Writing Assessment

The Summer 2024 Writing Assessment is closed. Students who did not complete it will receive a make-up assessment information by email. The assessment will be offered in proctored sessions Aug. 27-28. Please check your email!

About the Assessment

All new Whitman students are expected to complete the Summer Writing Assessment online as part of the registration process. Students compose a 250-word writing sample in response to a prompt, and Whitman writing faculty review each sample, at least twice, in an anonymized evaluation process.  You’ve been admitted to Whitman, so we recognize that you’re already a capable writer. The assessment’s goal is to determine how each student will fulfill the college’s requirement in writing proficiency in a manner that best prepares them to write skillfully at the college level.

Some students will have transfer or equivalency credit that fulfills this college requirement— please take the Summer Writing Assessment even if you expect to have these credits! Many students will join the Writing Program of the Rhetoric, Writing and Public Discourse (RWPD) department by enrolling in RWPD 170. 

About RWPD 170

RWPD 170 supports entering students and strengthens their writing skills for success across Whitman’s academic programs. Students will join an award-winning program taught by faculty dedicated to teaching, writing, student relationships, and first-year students in particular. Historical data shows students who take RWPD 170 double their improvement in college-level writing skills in comparison with students who do not take RWPD 170. 

Students who do not complete the Summer Writing Assessment will be designated as not having started the College’s requirement in writing proficiency. 

Note: Reminders and instructions for the Summer Writing Assessment will be sent to your Whitman email.

Accommodations

If you need accommodations for any of the placement exams, please get in touch with the Academic Resource Center by email at [email protected] .