Juniors, what can you do now that will set you up for success in the future? Our advice to students at the beginning of junior year is to involve themselves in meaningful activities. 

Not only do Admissions Officers love to accept multifaceted students, but diversifying and adding to your activities now will give you more to write about for many of the supplemental essays. A supplemental essay is a shorter essay required by individual schools based on what they want to know about applicants. They are the most thought-provoking and time-consuming part of the college application process! 

Remember: Beware of writing about athletics. This is a very cliche topic and should be avoided. Your athletic accomplishments matter but are best expressed in the Activity Section rather than an essay. 

Do you love to bake? Have you ever considered turning your passion into a business? Colleges admire initiative, which is a great opportunity for students who have started their own businesses, service projects, and nonprofits to shine. Not sure if you’re ready to be a business owner – consider, could you collaborate with a local charity serving those experiencing food scarcity?

If you have a passion for medicine and want to learn more about the medical field, try shadowing different types of doctors. This will not only help you find a path forward but also demonstrate your dedication and curiosity to a potential college. 

Interestingly, some students think a part-time job doesn’t look impressive to colleges – but they’d be wrong! Colleges love students who work. One of our past students even highlighted her teamwork, quick thinking, and resilience by sharing an anecdote from her job as a barista in her personal statement. She was accepted to her first-choice school!

However, we don’t mean to suggest that you should join everything and anything in an effort to boost your resume and strengthen your essays. Your decisions should be guided by your passions, curiosity, and any future goals. Piling up on externships you don’t really care about won’t help you as much as taking part in one activity that will allow you to make a true IMPACT. 

Here are some supplemental prompts from 2024 that allow students to use their extracurricular experiences and community involvement as subject matter:

Activity essay: University of Florida: Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity.

Community essay: University of Michigan: Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. 

Why Major essay: Carnegie Mellon: Most students choose their intended major or area of study based on a passion or inspiration that’s developed over time – what passion or inspiration led you to choose this area of study?

Want to differentiate yourself from other students? Start thinking about what type of activities you can add to your schedule now.