College Applications Without Essays: Do They Exist?

If you're reading this, you likely hate writing essays. You might even be dreaming about skipping supplemental essays altogether. You're not alone. Whether you're short on time or just want a simpler college application process, this blog will dive into if students can submit college applications without essays and how.

Students always ask, "Why do we have to write so many essays for college applications?" And if we're being honest, that's a valid question. Depending on how many schools a student applies to, they could write upwards of a dozen essays, all while working on other application components and school work.

So, why do essays matter? Let's get into it.

Table of Contents:

• Why Do Essays Matter in College Applications?

• Can I Submit College Applications Without Essays?

• Why Some Colleges Don't Require College Essays
• Can I Reuse Essays When Applying to College?
• Pros and Cons of No-Essay College Applications
• Tips on How to Stand Out in College Applications Without Essays
• Final Thoughts: Is a No-Essay College Right for You?

Key Takeaways:

• Yes, there are a handful of colleges that do not require college essays as part of the college application process. These no-essay colleges aim to increase accessibility and streamline the application process for students. 
• Essays are a crucial part of holistic admissions at many colleges. They allow admissions officers to understand who you are beyond your academics and offer insight into your voice, values, and fit for campus. 
• College applications with no essay don't mean no work for students. Students will need to spend extra time strengthening other application components to ensure they stand out above other applicants. 

Why Do Essays Matter in College Applications?

Academics and test scores are great at highlighting a student's academic abilities, but sometimes they only tell admissions officers part of the story. Essays and extracurriculars, however, allow admissions officers to learn more about what a student is like outside the classroom and on a more personal level. 

Since college admissions committees take a holistic approach to evaluating students, every element of the application is important, including essays.   

Students are typically expected (with certain exceptions) to submit two types of essays on college applications: the personal statement and supplemental essays, and both are very different but equally important to the process. 

Ultimately, colleges ask for essays as part of the college application process for these reasons:

• To get to know you (the applicant) better.
• Understand the student's ability to write at the college level.
• Determine if you're a good fit for their campus.
• Understand your reason for applying to their college and/or program.
• Get a better sense of your personality, experiences, and ambitions.
• Learn more about what's important to you. 

FAQ: Do you have to write an essay to get into college?

Some colleges require essays. Without them, an application would be considered incomplete and immediately disqualified, regardless of how competitive the applicant is. In later sections of this blog, we'll share some colleges that do not require additional essays from students. For those colleges, students can go without essays and have a chance at acceptance.

The Personal Statement

The personal statement is a 650-word essay - associated with the Common App - that helps colleges get a sense of the applicant's skills, personal traits, unique qualities, ambitions, and how they will apply each of these things to the college (should they be accepted). Each year, the Common App releases its 7 essay prompts for that year. Students are required to pick one prompt and submit an essay that is then shared with all the colleges listed on a student's application.

This essay is also one of the only opportunities students have to showcase their personality. When reading through thousands of applications, a quirky joke, inspirational message, or compelling story can be just the thing that gets an admission officer's attention. 

Another reason the personal statement holds so much importance is that no student is one-dimensional, and there is more to students beyond their grade point average (GPA).

The last thing to remember about the personal statement is that it is very easy to fall into a "checklist" approach and write a college essay that you think admissions officers want to read.

In situations like these, it usually has the exact opposite effect. 

The Supplemental Essay

Unlike the personal statement, the supplemental essay is usually shorter, more direct, highlights college interests, and is specific to a single school. Each college has a different set of essay prompts it releases every year. If you have your eyes set on a specific college, it's best to refer to their official website to get up-to-date information regarding college applications. These prompts are typically released during the summer on a rolling basis.

While there is only one personal statement essay that students are expected to write, the number of supplemental essays can quickly multiply depending on how many colleges a student applies to. 

There are many reasons colleges ask for supplemental essay questions. The most common include:

• Learning more about why the student has selected that institution.
• To understand if you're truly committed to their college. 
• To assess cultural and institutional fit.
• Determining your character, ambition, and motives. 

FAQ: How many essays do you have to write for college applications?

All students applying through the Common App are guaranteed to write 1 personal statement. The number of additional college essays a student will write depends entirely on how many colleges they apply to. If they apply to 6 colleges and are asked to submit 2 supplemental essay responses for each school, they could be looking at 13 essays (including the personal statement). 

Can I Submit College Applications Without Essays?

Yes, several colleges allow students to submit college applications without essays. That being said, if you're a student aiming to attend a highly competitive college, we regret to inform you that you will likely need to write a few essays during the process. 

Although some schools on this list will still expect a personal statement essay, students applying to these colleges are off the hook on writing dozens of supplemental essays. 

Colleges that Don't Require Essays

• Arizona State University
• Clemson University
• DePaul University
• Drexel University
• University of Alabama
• University of Arkansas
• University of Colorado-Denver
• University of Connecticut
• University of Delaware
• University of Denver
• University of Iowa

Schools can change their admissions policies at any time, so be sure to do your research and check the school's website before starting an application.

Why Some Colleges Don't Require College Essays

Every college is different. Colleges with a highly selective admissions process are prone to ask more of their applicants in hopes of receiving only serious candidates. On the other hand, other institutions, such as public or open-enrollment colleges, may not require college essays from students because:

• It removes potential barriers for non-native English speakers.
• Promotes accessibility and access to disadvantaged communities.
• Creates a more attractive and streamlined application process for students. 
• Simplifies the process for application readers (especially for colleges with fewer personnel).
• Maintain a data-driven or formula-based admissions (grade point average or SAT/ACT scores) approach.

By eliminating essays, these colleges promote equity and simplify the college admissions process.

Can You Reuse Essays When Applying to College?

Come essay season, the most common question we receive from students is: Do you have to write different essays for each college? The answer is no. At Collegewise, we encourage students to work smarter, not harder. Sometimes that means repurposing ideas in multiple supplemental essays. Now, we are in no way recommending a copy-paste approach. We are suggesting that you reuse general ideas and themes across essays that ask similar questions. 

For example, if you're a student interested in majoring in Computer Science and have 3-4 supplemental essay prompts asking you how you grew to love this academic discipline, it would only make sense to discuss the same experience in each essay. 

If you plan to recycle content, be sure to consider the following:

• How does this experience tie back into your interest in that particular college or major?
• Are there key things about the college that you can incorporate into your response?
• What did that experience teach you, and how do you plan to apply that to your future studies?

When is it risky to repurpose ideas in college essays? A risky approach would be to simply copy-paste content without proofreading it or tailoring it to a specific college. Be sure to review your responses and get a second pair of eyes before finalizing any college application. 

Pros and Cons of No-Essay College Applications

Pros:

• A less stressful college application process.
• Faster completion time during application season. 
• More time to enjoy the summer before senior year.
• More time to strengthen college applications that do require college essays.

Cons:

• Harder to stand out from other competitive applicants.
• More emphasis on academics and test scores.
• Fewer college options (if applying only for no-essay).
• Little to no opportunity to provide context or personality to your application.

FAQ: What does a "no-essay" college application really mean?

It's important to always read the fineprint before finalizing a college application. Some colleges may suggest optional responses, in which case it may (or may not) improve your chances of acceptance to submit. Other times an essay may be optional for general admission, but required for scholarships. If you have questions about how to navigate these college admissions naunces, seek support from a professional. 

Tips on How to Stand Out in College Applications Without an Essay

Academics and Standardized Tests

Be sure to have strong grades in each of your classes alongside an impressive SAT or ACT score. This means that students should take rigorous courses, showcase an upward trend in their academics, and take classes that align with their chosen major. 

Students should also spend time preparing for the standardized tests, taking necessary diagnostic exams and practice tests to ensure they're putting their best foot forward for test day. 

Learn more about Collegewise's Test Prep and Tutoring or schedule a free diagnostic exam.

Extracurriculars

Students should start focusing on extracurriculars as early as grade 9. This is the perfect time to cast a wide net and start exploring your interests. By the time junior year arrives, you will have had enough time to identify your passions and make an impact in each of your activities. Not every activity needs to tie back to your specific major, but you must have a well-rounded list of activities that showcase your personality and character in and outside the classroom, especially since you can't do that in the essays section. 

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation play a key role in improving your candidacy. Students should aim to have 2-3 letters of recommendation, written by a school counselor and teachers. To ensure your letters of recommendation complement the rest of your application, be sure to ask teachers with whom you have good relationships. These teachers can advocate for your growth, academic interests, and share a perspective with colleges that may not be visible in other sections of your application. 

This may require you to start developing these relationships early on to give your teacher enough to write about. Rest assured, it will absolutely benefit you in the end!

Final Thoughts: Is a No-Essay College Right for You?

It's important to remember that although some schools do not require supplemental essays, that doesn't mean students should only apply to these schools. In some ways, it could potentially limit your opportunities by focusing only on these colleges. Instead, take the time to build out a balanced college list. This could mean incorporating a few no-essay colleges to help reduce some stress during college application season. 

Before finalizing your college list, it’s also worth thinking about the kind of academic work you'll be expected to complete once you're enrolled. Even if you avoid essays in the application process, chances are you’ll still be writing them in college. In that sense, the college application essay isn’t just a requirement; it’s also a valuable opportunity to practice organizing your thoughts, developing your voice, and strengthening your writing skills.

So while no-essay colleges can offer a well-deserved break from application stress, don’t shy away from a school just because it asks you to write. Sometimes, that extra effort can help you grow before you’ve even stepped on campus.

About Us: With over twenty five years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether in the classroom, in your applications, or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools includes counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates.