does rutgers have supplemental essays 2023

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How to Respond to the Rutgers University 2024-2025 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.

The Rutgers University essay prompts are ready and waiting! If your goal is to become a Scarlet Knight, then read on because we have a handy dandy guide on how to best respond to the Ru tgers’ application prompts. Starting with the 2024-2025 application cycle, the questions for the Rutger’s specific application and the Common Application are the exact same. Ok, let’s get started! 

First, some background on Rutgers University

Rutgers University is the state university of New Jersey. As a diverse public research university. Rutgers offers three regional campuses in the following cities in New Jersey: 

• New Brunswick

Rutgers offers more than 150 undergraduate majors throughout their schools and colleges across all three campuses. Therefore, Rutgers has something for everyone! Let’s break down the Rutgers essay choices to make responding as clear as possible. 

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The rutgers prompts (same as the common application).

“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.”

This is your chance to talk about the people, places, and experiences that have shaped you as a person. The great thing about this prompt is that it’s very broad in scope and can be molded to fit nearly any story. Think about the most important moments in your life and their impact. What parts of your upbringing or personality are essential to who you are as a person? If you’re having trouble, try completing the following sentence: “I wouldn’t be who I am today without…” 

Questions to consider : 

• What sets you apart from others? 
• Do you have any hobbies, interests, or talents that your life revolves around? 
• What experiences or people have impacted the way you view the world? 

“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?”

Failure facilitates growth. The hardest moments in our lives are often the ones in which we develop the most as people. Think back to some of the major turning points in your life – the moments when you adapted to a new environment, coped with loss, or tried a new activity. Chances are these moments weren’t exactly easy. But in spite of the adversity you faced, you came out the other side new and improved. Think about these difficult moments, how you overcame them, and what you learned from the experience. As you’re writing, remember to focus on the positive side of things instead of lingering on the negative.  

• Have you ever moved to a new town, grieved the loss of a family member, or struggled in school?
• How have you responded to challenges in your life?
• What have you learned about yourself in the process? 

Related:  Should you submit the FAFSA before or after acceptance?

“Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?”

Admissions officers love to see candidates who are independent thinkers. If you’re passionate about certain ideas that don’t exactly align with popular beliefs, this is your chance to share them. Maybe your essay pushes back against beliefs instilled in you from an early age, or perhaps you’d like to point out injustices you see in society. Whatever the case may be, try to shape your story in a positive and productive fashion. Steer clear of coming across as preachy, angry, or arrogant. Rather, you should aim to strike a humble, yet confident tone. This can be a tricky prompt, but if done well it can demonstrate your ability to stand up for what you believe in. 

Question to consider : 

• When have you had an unpopular belief? 
• At what times in life have you had to defend your point of view?
• What beliefs do you consider essential to who you are as a person?

Also see: What looks good on a college application?

“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?”

Oftentimes, we obsess over the problems in our lives and forget to be thankful for the good things. In this new prompt recently added to the Common App’s selection, students are asked to write about a time they felt grateful. The key here is to discuss an event that opened your eyes to a new perspective. Maybe it was the kindness of a stranger, or perhaps it was the action of a friend or family member. Talk about how you felt prior to the event, then discuss how the event changed your point of view. Did you gain a newfound sense of hope or appreciation? Given the uncertainty and anxiety many people have felt as a result of the pandemic, this timely prompt is an excellent chance for students to look on the bright side. 

• What makes you step back and appreciate the good things in your life? 
• How do you express gratitude? 
• What are some of your favorite acts of kindness you’ve witnessed?

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

Similar to the other prompts, this one asks students to describe something they learned from a specific event. Just as you would for prompt #2, think back to the major turning points in your life as you’re brainstorming for this question. What accomplishments are you most proud of? What events transformed you as a person? If you’re having trouble, keep in mind that your particular event doesn’t have to be something as big as winning an award or moving to a new town. It could be something as small as making a new friend or helping your parents complete a task. The event or accomplishment itself doesn’t matter too much. What’s important is the realization it sparked and the period of personal growth that followed. 

Questions to consider :

• How have you changed as a person over time? 
• What moments or events sparked that change? 
• Have you ever had a “lightbulb moment” during which you came to an important realization?

Also see: How to write an essay about yourself  

“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?”

Now’s your chance to talk about the ideas and topics that excite you most in this world. It’s also a great opportunity to connect your intended area of study to your personal passions. For instance, let’s say you plan on majoring in film. Use this prompt to discuss your interest in cinematography and how you’re eager to produce your own short films once you enroll in school. Whatever you choose to write about, just make sure it’s something you’re genuinely passionate about. If it’s something you truly love, you should have no trouble writing an entire essay about it. 

Questions to consider:  

• What’s a topic or idea that you never get bored of? 
• What are the things that make you most excited?
• When you’re interested in something, how do you typically seek more information about it? 

“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.”

If none of the other prompts are to your liking, there’s always the handy create-your-own option. This prompt gives students the enormous freedom to write about literally anything. While this may seem exciting to some students, it can be daunting to others. If you choose to pursue this prompt, there’s a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, you should find a focus and stick with it. Avoid letting your essay become too broad and freewheeling. Rather, write about one or two specific moments in your life and how they relate to your topic. And although you can write about anything, it’s best to discuss something that relates to your own personal growth, what you’ve learned in life, or what you hope to accomplish in the future. 

• What should admissions committees know about you that they wouldn’t learn about from the rest of your application?
• Are there any stories from your past that provide insight into who you are as a person?
• If you had to give an elevator pitch describing yourself, what would you talk about? 

Also see:  Can you use the same essay for multiple colleges?

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Wrapping up

Try to pick the topic that most appeals to you–the one that makes you feel you could  write a novel about! Also, remember if none of the topics appeal to you, you can choose to write an essay on a topic of your choice. Remember, Rutgers is viewing your application as a whole, so it is important to be authentic and avoid repetition. Best of luck! 

Additional resources

Scholarships360 is a great source that offers an abundance of assistance in the college application process! Check out our other helpful guides on how to write a great supplemental essay , how to respond to the Common App prompts , how to write an essay about yourself , and how to write 250 or 500 word essays. 

Other colleges to consider

• University of Delaware (Newark, DE)
• Cornell University (Ithaca ,NY)
• New York University (New York, NY)

Frequently asked questions about responding to the Rutgers supplemental essay prompts

Does rutgers care about application essays, how long should my rutgers essay be, how to i stand out when writing my rutgers essay, can i reuse essays from other applications for my rutgers essay, scholarships360 recommended.

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Rutgers University Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the Rutgers essay prompts? CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the Rutgers supplemental essays will show you how to write engaging Rutgers essays and maximize your admissions odds.

For more help crafting your Rutgers supplemental essays, click here to create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

Rutgers Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• According to U.S. News , the Rutgers University Ranking is #63 in National Universities.
• Rutgers has an acceptance rate of 66.9%.
• Rutgers requires one essay of 3800 characters through the Coalition Application or their Rutgers portal.
• We recommend completing the Rutgers supplement essay cohesively and thoroughly to maximize your admissions odds. Strong Rutgers essays can make a huge difference!

Rutgers University wants students who will be active members of their academic community and the Global Rutgers network . Rutgers looks for students who can clearly articulate their beliefs and values to others. This is why the Rutgers application essay is so important.

Ready to get started? Let’s talk Rutgers essays.

Does Rutgers have a Supplemental Essay?

Yes. Rutgers accepts applications through the Rutgers Application Portal or the Coalition Application. All applicants must complete one Rutgers supplement essay, which can be submitted either through the Coalition Application or through the Rutgers Application Portal.

The Rutgers-specific essay prompts are the same as those listed on the Coalition Application.

Check out the Rutgers admissions website for more specific details, including information about the Rutgers application essay and tips on how to write strong Rutgers essays.

How Many Essays does Rutgers Require?

Good news! There is only one Rutgers supplemental essay.

Rutgers requires one essay of 3800 characters including spaces (around 500 words). This essay should address one of four topics . Your Rutgers application essay can also be on a topic of your choosing.

Does Rutgers Care about Supplemental Essays?

Yes—all schools care about supplemental essays, and Rutgers is no exception.

The Rutgers essay is a great chance for applicants to show who they are and why they should be admitted. Additionally, your Rutgers application essay is your only chance to address the admissions team on your own terms. The Rutgers admissions team will read thousands of Rutgers essays, and you want yours to stand out. In your Rutgers supplement essay, then, you should do all you can to show what makes you unique.

How do I Write the Rutgers College Essay?

We have provided the prompts for the Rutgers supplemental essays 2021-2022 below. You’ll find a breakdown of how to approach the Rutgers essays as well as tips for creating a strong application narrative.

In your Rutgers supplemental essays, you’ll want to keep your application narrative in mind. An application narrative is the story that your application tells. Ideally, each part of your application will work together to form a full picture. For example, a student looking to study architecture may seek out recommendation letters from their math teachers. That student may also highlight a summer internship at a local architecture firm. Finally, they may write an essay on the moment that they discovered their interest in building design.

Unsure of what an application narrative would look like for you? Check out CollegeAdvisor’s article A Deep Dive into the Personal Narrative .

What are the Essays for Rutgers?

The Rutgers supplemental essays 2021-2022 are available on the main Rutgers website along with a full list of application requirements. You can also find the Rutgers application essays on the Coalition Application.

Additionally, we’ve outlined each of the Rutgers supplemental essays below. We’ve also included strategies on how to respond to each of the Rutgers essay prompts.

Have questions about how to approach supplemental essays for other applications? Then check out our FAQs on all things Supplemental Essays .

Let’s break down the Rutgers essay prompts!

Choosing one of the Rutgers essay prompts is one of the most important parts of the essay process. There are five Rutgers essay prompts. Not sure which to choose? Try thinking about the following questions as you approach each potential Rutgers supplemental essay topic.

For each potential Rutgers application essay topic, ask yourself:

• Do I have a specific story to tell?
• Why am I telling this story?
• How does my story connect to my interest in Rutgers?
• Can I address what I like about Rutgers that I can’t find anywhere else?

If you can answer these questions clearly, then you are ready to write your Rutgers application essay!

Need more inspiration? Then, check out CollegeAdvisor’s article 39 essay tips from Admissions Experts .

Rutgers Supplemental Essays – Topic 1 (Optional)

Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

The Rutgers essay prompts are designed to help you introduce yourself to the admissions committee. In your Rutgers supplemental essay, you want to discuss an experience that is about YOU. This prompt asks you to tell a story about who you are or who you have become.

Consider what values and personality traits you hold. What story might reflect these traits? For example, you might have plenty of stories about going fishing with your grandpa. However, if none of these stories emphasize your patience or your passion for family, then we won’t learn much from your Rutgers application essay.

The first of the Rutgers essay prompts asks you to tell a “story.” This story should be a full narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. However, the most important part of this story is that it revolves around you. Don’t spend so much time in your Rutgers application essay discussing what happened that you don’t have the space to tell your reader why it mattered and how it relates to your identity.

In addition, you’ll want to connect this story with the kind of student you’d be at Rutgers. Among other things, the Rutgers essay prompts are designed to assess how you’d “fit” at Rutgers. You should use your Rutgers application essay, then, to show how your priorities align with Rutgers’ offerings and values.

Have you read the Rutgers mission statement? Check out their about page for more info.

Rutgers Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Does your essay emphasize your core identity?
• Do you clearly showcase your values and personality traits?
• Does your essay show how you would embody Rutgers’ ideals?

Rutgers Supplemental Essays – Topic 2 (Optional)

Describe a time you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

This Rutgers supplement essay topic has two parts. Firstly, it asks you to describe a meaningful contribution you made to others. This contribution can be large or small-scale. What matters most is that the contribution you discuss in your Rutgers application essay reflects something important about you.

With prompts like this, writing can sometimes feel like bragging—this makes some students downplay their achievements out of self-consciousness. In your Rutgers supplement essay, however, don’t discount the value of your contribution. Your Rutgers application essay should show that you care about the common good and have actively dedicated yourself to others. In your Rutgers supplement essay, you should foreground what’s important to you and how you’ve served the world around you.

The second part of this Rutgers supplement essay question asks you to discuss the challenges and rewards of your contribution. When you talk about challenges, don’t undermine yourself. Avoid sentences that start with “I didn’t do…” or “I failed at…” Instead, focus on how you solved these challenges or how you would have solved them if you were to do it over again. The strongest Rutgers essays will use specific details to discuss how you contributed to your community, the impact you made, and any complications that you faced.

• Does your essay respond to both parts of the question?
• Do you clearly state the impact of your contribution?
• Do you avoid fixating on the challenges and shortcomings of your contribution?

Rutgers Supplemental Essays – Topic 3 (Optional)

Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?

As you approach this Rutgers supplement essay, start by finding a clear and concise way to describe your belief. A belief can be anything as serious as your religion or as simple as the belief that hot dogs are also sandwiches (controversial, I know). In both scenarios, your readers need to understand what your belief is and where it came from.

The story you tell in your Rutgers supplement essay should reveal something deep about your character and values. The best Rutgers essays, then, will use an instance of a belief being challenged to reveal something essential about how a student deals with conflicting perspectives.

Once you’ve established your belief, then discuss how it felt for this belief to be challenged. How did this conversation affect you? Did it force you to reconsider your perspectives? Did it create an emotional response? As you write, describe how you felt specifically. Ask yourself if you felt attacked by this challenge or if it opened your eyes to the viewpoints of others. Finally, describe how your belief system changed. Discuss any realizations you had and how you changed as a result of the situation. Overall, your Rutgers supplement should discuss what kind of student or thinker this conversation helped you become.

• Do you describe your belief and its origins?
• Does your Rutgers supplement essay describe how you were emotionally affected by this situation?
• Do you share how this challenge changed you as a student and thinker?

Rutgers Supplemental Essays – Topic 4 (Optional)

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

This Rutgers essay may seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. The key to this Rutgers supplemental essay is to be honest. You don’t need to spend your Rutgers supplemental essay describing big-picture issues. Instead, just make sure your Rutgers supplement essay speaks clearly and deeply about something that matters to you.

Additionally, make sure you describe how these issues directly impact your life and shape the person you’re becoming. Discuss both the positives and the negatives, and make sure you use clear language.

Finally, remember that your Rutgers supplemental essays should be about you. In this Rutgers supplement essay, don’t just focus on general struggles and triumphs that teenagers face. Instead, make sure you tie these experiences to your own development. The best Rutgers essays will use a student’s view of the world to relate to their own experiences.

• Do you speak honestly about your experiences?
• Does your Rutgers supplement essay clearly define the positives and negatives of the teenage experience?
• Do you focus equally on the positives and negatives?
• Is your essay about you?

Rutgers Supplemental Essays – Topic 5 (Optional)

Submit an essay on the topic of your choice.

Not interested in any of the other Rutgers essay prompts? This is a perfect chance to show Rutgers who you are on your own terms.

However, make sure you don’t use this Rutgers application essay to tell a story about someone else. If you choose your own topic for your Rutgers supplement essay, make sure that it reflects an important aspect of yourself that you can’t discuss anywhere else. If you read your essay and it can apply to any other topic above, choose another of the Rutgers essay prompts.

Moreover, if your essay says a lot about a topic but nothing about you, then you should change your topic. This comes from the scope of your question. If your topic is something like “why I like bread,” then your reader will learn a lot about bread and nothing about you. However, if your topic is “why baking bread with my grandma taught me to value patience,” then your reader will learn about your experiences and insights. The strongest Rutgers essays will use specific details to tell a story that your reader couldn’t learn from any other part of your application.

• Does your Rutgers application essay topic reflect something not shown elsewhere in your application?
• Does your topic not fit with any of the other Rutgers essay prompts?
• Do you discuss what kind of student or person you are?

Additional tips for writing your Rutgers Supplemental Essays

Choose your topic wisely.

Do not choose a Rutgers application essay topic that does not speak to you. At the end of the day, your response to the Rutgers essay prompts needs to connect to your own experiences. Many essays might be well-written, but they would still be ineffective if they tell us nothing about the writer. In your Rutgers essays, the admissions team wants to understand what kind of person and student you are. Don’t make up a story in order to seem more interesting. Instead, just be yourself and thoroughly explain why your topic matters to you.

Do Your Research

Don’t forget to read the official Rutgers materials. In these materials, the school explains what makes Rutgers unique. This should be in your mind while you write your essay. Ultimately, your answers to the Rutgers essay prompts should work in conversation with Rutgers’ own values.

Connect it back to Rutgers

Although you are writing an essay about yourself, remember that this is a school-specific application. For this reason, you should probably mention Rutgers at least once. Your responses to the Rutgers essay prompts should describe something specific about Rutgers you couldn’t find elsewhere.

Rutgers Supplemental Essays: Final Thoughts

Your Rutgers application should connect yourself to the school. Remember that Rutgers wants to admit students who have a clear definition of why they need to be at Rutgers specifically. Spend time on the Rutgers website, and focus your essay on values related to the school. Finally, don’t forget to proofread your work. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide on Rutgers was written by Joy Nesbitt , Harvard ’21. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources, click here . Want help crafting your Rutgers supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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How to Get Into Rutgers University: Admissions Data & Strategies

July 30, 2024

Rutgers University’s prized New Brunswick campus is ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the country. Possessing standout programs in engineering, computer science, business, and nursing, Rutgers’ flagship campus attracts scores of talented students not only from its home state of New Jersey but also from around the globe. In fact, the university (across all levels) is home to students from all 50 states as well as 9,000 international students from 125 countries. With rising application numbers and dropping acceptance rates, access to the New Brunswick campus is a more selective process than some may realize.

Given this competitive environment, the intent of this article is to give those considering applying to Rutgers University information such as:

• Rutgers University’s Class of 2027 acceptance rate
• SAT, GPA, and class rank of accepted Rutgers University applicants
• Admissions stats by academic discipline/school
• Admissions trends from the Class of 2027
• Rutgers University’s system for rating applicants
• A look at the demographics of current undergraduates
• The percent of accepted students that attend Rutgers University (yield rate)
• Tips for applying to the Rutgers University
• How to assess whether applying to Rutgers University is even worth the $70 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Rutgers University Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025

There were approximately 43,347 applications for admission into the Rutgers Class of 2027; 28,326 were accepted. This means that the Rutgers acceptance rate is 65%.

Historical Rutgers acceptance rates are as follows:

Rutgers In-State vs. Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

If you hail from outside New Jersey, you’ll have an easier time gaining acceptance to Rutgers. For students entering the Class of 2027, the Rutgers—New Brunswick in-state acceptance rate was 62% while the out-of-state acceptance rate was 72%.

Rutgers Admissions Statistics by School – Class of 2027

It’s also important to take a close look at the admitted student profile for your school of choice within the larger university:

School of Arts and Sciences

• SAT mid-50% range: 1330-1510
• ACT mid-50% range: 30-34
• High school GPA range: 3.8-4.2
• High school percentile rank range: 75-95

Rutgers Business School

• SAT mid-50% range: 1370-1510
• High school percentile rank range: 78-95

School of Engineering

• SAT mid-50% range: 1360-1520
• High school GPA range: 3.8-4.3

Rutgers Acceptance Rate — Continued

School of environmental and biological sciences.

• SAT mid-50% range: 1290-1470
• ACT mid-50% range: 29-34
• High school GPA range: 3.7-4.2
• High school percentile rank range: 69-95

School of Nursing–New Brunswick

• SAT mid-50% range: 1260-1440
• ACT mid-50% range: 29-32
• High school GPA range: 4.1-4.3
• High school percentile rank range: 82-95

Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

• SAT mid-50% range: 1380-1520
• ACT mid-50% range: 31-34
• High school GPA range: 4.1-4.4
• High school percentile rank range: 85-95

Mason Gross School of the Arts

• SAT mid-50% range: 1280-1450
• ACT mid-50% range: 29-33
• High school GPA range: 3.7-4.1
• High school percentile rank range: 74-95

What class rank do you need to get accepted to Rutgers?

Among enrolled 2023-24 first-year students, 92% hailed from the top half. Moreover, 66% placed in the top quarter and 30% in the top tenth.

What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for Rutgers?

Approximately 56% of enrolled Class of 2027 students chose to submit test scores. Of that bunch, the mid-50% SAT range was 1270-1480; the ACT range was 28-33.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• Rutgers New Brunswick received a record-breaking number of applications this past cycle.
• 84% of the incoming class were New Jersey residents.
• 37% of the student body is the first in their family to attend college.
• The Class of 2027 was one of the most diverse classes in school history.

How Rutgers University Rates Applicants

Rutgers University considers only two factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load and GPA. Three items are designated as “important”: the application essay, character/personal qualities, and extracurricular activities. “Considered” factors are: class rank, standardized test scores, an interview, geographical residence, talent/ability, work experience, volunteer work, first-generation status, and state residency.

Straight from the Rutgers admissions office:

• “The number of applicants Rutgers admits is determined by the quality of the applicant pool, which changes from year to year and varies by college/school, and the space in the entering class.”
• “We conduct a holistic review of each student’s application that takes into consideration many more factors than test scores and cumulative grade-point averages.”

Who Actually Gets Into Rutgers University?

Let’s now take a look at the demographics of the Rutgers University undergraduate student body.

Historically, the states that send the highest number of students to Rutgers are:

• Pennsylvania

The greatest number of international students typically come from the following countries:

• South Korea

In terms of ethnic identity, the breakdown is as follows for the Class of 2027:

• Hispanic: 15%
• Black or African American: 6%
• Two or More Races: 4%
• International: 7%

A look at the gender split reveals that the Class of 2027 enrolled a fairly even number of men and women:

Rutgers University’s Yield Rate

Rutgers University’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted—is 27%, slightly higher than previous years. However, this figure is significantly lower than other powerhouse state universities like the University of Florida (44%), University of Michigan (47%), and UVA (42%).

Tips for Applying to Rutgers University

If you plan on joining the 43,000+ Rutgers University hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• Rutgers extended its test-optional policy through the 2024-25 admissions cycle.
• Apply early by November 1, if possible. You will receive a decision by January 31.
• Rutgers University does not consider “ demonstrated interest ” so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
• Current high school seniors must complete a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR).
• Rutgers typically does not require any supplemental essays, so pour your energy into the Common App personal statement required by Rutgers.

Should I Apply to Rutgers University?

Students who pursued a reasonably rigorous high school course load and earned a mixture of A’s and B’s will be viable candidates for the New Brunswick campus. SAT scores above a 1300 will put applicants on solid footing, but the temporary test-optional policy can be utilized by those without strong standardized test results. Moreover, out-of-state teens will face an easier road to acceptance.

Rutgers University Acceptance Rate — Final Thoughts

Of course, it goes without saying that all teens applying to a school of Rutgers University’s caliber—particularly in certain strong programs/colleges— also need to have a proper mix of “target” and “safety” schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here .

Ready to begin crafting your college applications? Check out the following resources:

• Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
• What is Demonstrated Interest?
• Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
• College Fair Advice for High School Students
• How to Complete the Common App Activities List
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topic Ideas
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• Application Strategies

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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A Good Rutgers Essay Example

What’s covered:, essay example , where to get feedback on your essay .

With over 60,000 students, Rutgers University is the largest higher education institution in New Jersey. With such a large school, there is something for everybody, which is why it might seem that everybody applies. In order to make your Rutgers application stand out from the crowd, you need to have well-written essays. In this post, we’ll share a real essay a student submitted to Rutgers, and outline its strengths and areas of improvement. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Since the Rutgers essay prompts are the same as the Coalition Application prompts, we recommend checking out our guide to the Coalition Application essays for a comprehensive breakdown on how to write these supplemental prompts.

Prompt: Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs? (No word count given)

I was about to eat the last cookie when I heard a low growl. I looked up at my friend, her cheeks flushed red, and her brow pinched in a tight dip. She didn’t make eye contact with me when I extended my hand to give her the cookie. She pushed it away, and I kept insisting until she finally gave in. Growing up, family was extremely important to me. I was taught to treat others like my family, a mantra we would repeat. Sharing that cookie, despite not having lunch that day, was like sharing the last tortilla with my brother.

As much as I would like to say family is important to me now, it’s not. At least not the accepted concept of family which is the people you are related to by blood. The problem with this concept of family is that you don’t get to choose the people in your family, no matter how good or bad of a person they are. 

Unfortunately, I learned this through my dad’s death. Before this tragedy, my family was inseparable. We would have parties every weekend to celebrate the big game or just see each other. Now, those parties only frequent the occasional birthday. It was weird for me to lose my closeness with my family, but this closeness was quickly replaced by relationships with my friends. I’ll never forget the heartfelt discussions I had with my friend Nick, who would give his shoulder for me to cry on and tell a joke that would make me wheeze in laughter.

Two years have passed, and I stand towering over my dad’s grave. There’s a flag pierced in the dead grass, and my hands are frozen. It’s quiet, and I think about the detrimental truth my mom whispered in my ear. It took me so long to realize this, blind to the hints he left behind. He would have improved his chances of surviving cancer if he took care of himself. He didn’t care about my brother and me, and at his grave I accepted that. I talked to him genuinely one last time, touched his tombstone, then walked away. I moved on.

This truth of my dad not caring for his health dawned the realization that my family was just a bunch of people who didn’t know me. I coped through isolation as I was comfortable being alone, but my family tried to force me out to go places and surround myself with people who weren’t emotionally available. In response, I instead surrounded myself with the people I chose to be my family, such as Nick. We would often go to the mall and browse each store or go to the Rollercade and spend hours falling. I would steal sips from his red ICEE, and he would always try to catch me but slip on the floor. These moments meant more than scarce instances I had with my dad. 

Every day I message my friends, some new and others old. I cherish these people who are not bound by blood, but for my personality, my laughter, my jokes, and my intelligence. I’ll never forget how my reformed belief of family allowed me to make friends who have made long lasting impressions and positive influences in my life.

What the Essay Did Well

The first thing that jumps out at you is how vulnerable this essay is. The author wasn’t afraid to let the reader into their personal life, and because of that, the essay is stronger. So much more is revealed about who this student is and how they respond to difficult situations because they were honest with us.

Another thing that this essay does well is describing what family means to this student. Taking an accepted concept like family and boiling it down to the little moments helps us see what they value. For them, seeing each other frequently, celebrating together, having a shoulder to cry on, sharing the last bite of food, and losing track of time by just being in each other’s company is what makes a family. Sprinkling in all these examples and anecdotes shows us what their definition of a family is, without explicitly needing to tell us.

There’s a nice balance in this essay between what this student accepted as the traditional idea of family and how they now see family. For this prompt, it’s important to have that balance so you can show what the long-cherished belief was, as well as how a challenge to that belief changed your perspective. This essay does a good job of encompassing both.

What Could Be Improved

Although a really vulnerable topic can be great for revealing personal details and creating empathy, it can also backfire and make the reader uncomfortable. This isn’t a guarantee, but it’s something to keep in mind when choosing a deeply personal and somewhat traumatic topic. For the most part, the author did a good job of keeping the story focused on themselves and their emotions, but it’s always a possibility that someone reading the essay lost someone close to them and finds this essay too hard to read.

In terms of the structure of the essay, it wavered back and forth between focusing on the student’s dad and their friends. To make it a little easier to follow, they should have started with how their traditional family was important to them until their dad died, and then explain how they found a new definition of family among their friends. This structure is more concise and clearer than starting with the dad, jumping to Nick, going back to the dad, and then going to Nick once again.

Want feedback like this on your Rutgers essay before you submit? We offer expert essay review by advisors who have helped students get into their dream schools. You can book a review with an expert to receive notes on your topic, grammar, and essay structure to make your essay stand out to admissions officers.

Haven’t started writing your essay yet? Advisors on CollegeVine also offer expert college counseling packages . You can purchase a package to get one-on-one guidance on any aspect of the college application process, including brainstorming and writing essays.

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Rutgers University Admission Essay Writing Guide

Application Guide

Essay examples.

When faced with the task of crafting a compelling personal statement for admission to Rutgers University, consider seeking guidance from StudyMoose's expert team. A well-crafted personal statement is crucial in showcasing your experiences, goals, and suitability for the university. StudyMoose's skilled professionals specialize in creating personalized and impactful statements that resonate with admissions committees. With their assistance, you can effectively navigate the process of presenting your unique attributes and aspirations, significantly enhancing your prospects of gaining acceptance to Rutgers University.

Why Rutgers university?

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers lots of study programs for bachelors and for master’s degree students. It is one of the most diverse high schools in the USA that has a broad experience of interdisciplinary studies and courses. Rutgers is also famous with its great opportunities for scholarships.

According to their site, 74 percent of the enrolled students receive financial aid. The Rutger’s diplomas quickly pay back: the survey of the alumni community shows that 83% of the fresh bachelors are being employed during six months after graduation. The median starting salary of more than 58 000 US dollars, which is a decent start for internship or first job. The University states that the cost-benefit analysis of their study shows that it is one of the optimal places for the student to be. Having such a salary without a significant tuition debt may give young adults great advantages at the start of their independent life.

Another important thing both for students and for professors is a powerful research base. Rutgers University is a leading health care provider in the state and public research facility. It allows the students to get rich practical experience and become valuable specialists after their graduation. The custom requirements don’t allow you to use any other essay — Coalition or Common App — to copy and paste it. Still, you may use the ideas of those prompts to recombine them. If you have any doubts, our writers are ready to help and make a perfect and tailor-made paper for you in a couple of days. We do hope that our collection of Rutger application essay examples will help you to create an excellent text.

The mission of the University consists of the three main theses:

• providing for the instructional needs of New Jersey’s residents through its undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs;
• conducting the innovative research that contributes to the medical, environmental, social, and cultural well-being of the state, as well as aiding the economy and the state’s businesses and industries;
• performing public service in support of the needs of the residents of the state and its local, county, and state governments.

Rutgers University harbors more than 530 000 students in the three major cities of the state. This division is one of its main peculiarities: you have to check the differences between the different campuses and decide which one is the best for you.

The Rutgers undergraduate application process and admission essays

The three universities of Rutgers are situated in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick. Be very attentive while choosing the right one, don’t just pick the closest to your home. Though they share a single application form, with Rutgers application essay and a list of documents, they have different admission terms, different majors, and other slight differences. So, if you are prepared for College Camden, it doesn’t mean that it will do for Newark without any adjustments.

To get started you have to create the profile at the Rutgers application portal. Lots of people wonder does Rutgers use the Common App for enrollment, but, unfortunately, the answer is no. It has its own admission system, so if you apply to several different universities, you’d have to write your Rutger admission paper from scratch. The good news is that the Rutgers essay prompts are very similar to Common App or Coalition ones, so, with a few adjustments, you may use your previous text.

The application process may look tricky, but we’ll try to explain each of them. Here’s what you need to get enrolled:

• Create your Rutgers Community ID (remember, there is no such thing as Rutgers University Common App account, but you still can copy and paste all the relevant information)
• Rutgers University will need your Self-Reported Academic Record (or SRAR). You have to list all your courses and grades from 9 to 11. It’s a good idea to list the 12 th -grade courses even if they aren’t finished yet and you don’t have the final grades. Remember, that you should add an official transcript to your SRAR if you have already finished high school. Any differences between them may result in your application being banned. Double-check all the figures before submitting them!
• If you have earned a GED, the Rutgers admission commission will need its results, too.
• SAT/ACT test results are optional because no one can be sure of test dates. We don’t know how the presence or absence of the test results may influence the graduation process (we still recommend submitting the test result if you can do it though), but the Rutgers university site states that full admission is still available for students without tests. The admission committee states that they accept the official tests, sent directly from the agency only. The writing components are not required, the internal Rutgers application essay will be evaluated instead. Rutgers doesn’t have any preferences for SAT or ACT, both test results are equal.
• Advanced Placement tests aren’t required until the admission is accepted by the student. But if you have the results, save them for later.
• The admission commission expects you to write a single Rutgers supplemental essay. Again, it’s very similar to the Common App essay, just with a slightly less word limit, around 500 words. The essay is optional for students who transfer from other universities.
• You may list your extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other relevant personal experiences in the corresponding field. The admission committee states that any papers about extracurricular activities sent separately won’t be considered.
• When your application is submitted it’s time to pay your application and enrollment fees. Keep in mind that some fees may be non-refundable and you won’t get the money back if you are not enrolled.
• Check your application at the Rutgers Community site. They may still need some credentials except the main ones listed here. Fill them and wait for the official admissions announcements.
• You should accept an admission offer, so don’t plan long vacations while you are waiting for the decision.

The internal Rutgers entrance essays

The Rutgers supplement essay is mandatory for first-time applicants and optional for the transferring students, as a possibility to tell more about their personalities. They should be included in the application form together with all the documents. The papers submitted separately won’t be considered. Rutgers University asks to clear the formatting before copying and pasting the text into the application form field. Writing right at the site may shift the formatting and punctuation and your Rutger admission essay may look worse than it should be.

The Rutgers college essay prompt is so similar to the yearly Coalition and Common App ones that we wonder why isn’t Rutgers on the Common App. The main difference is the word limit. Rutgers undergraduate application maximum character amount is 3800. It is roughly about 500 words. Be careful with the character limit, because the admission form may discard any extra characters and your Rutgers essay will look unfinished.

A smaller word limit might be a challenge. You can’t just take your Common app paper and use it as is if you have used all the 650 words there. Cutting down an already proofread and finished text is always a tricky task, because every sentence seems polished and right where it needs to be. If you have troubles with it, you may use a wide variety of our Rutger essay examples gathered at our site. Or, you may ask our professional writers to shorten your Common App paper or create the shining Rutgers admission essay from scratch, using the personal information you provide.

If you are determined to write your Rutgers college essay by yourself, here are some hints and tips that will help you create a magnificent paper:

Make it personal

Don’t try to describe the abstract principles even if they fully align with your mindset. They want to know about your personal experience and the practical proof that your values are important to you. Find a good illustrative case, show its premise, tell what you felt during it and the lessons you learned from it.

Reflect on this case from your current vantage point

Who would you have been without that event? Did it help to shape your feats or skills that you can use in your future life? Did it reinforce your beliefs or made you doubt them?

Be careful with humor

Cracking a joke or two can make your essay stand out, but don’t try to impress the admission officers too much with them. Don’t use the memes and tropes that are funny for your generation only: the admission committee usually consists of tired people who are slightly older then you. If you have some doubts, try to let someone of their age read your Rutger admission essay.

Motivation Letter Requirements

It may take a bit more time, but you are constrained by your word limit. You have enough space for one idea only. If you have more than one, just write down every possible variant and let them cool down for a day or two. Then read it again and take the most appealing draft to turn it into a full-fledged paper.

The golden rule for the short texts is one idea — one sentence

Each phrase should move the plot further and tell the reader something new about the subject. You don’t have extra space for sentences that are just beautiful, but not practical. Don’t try to repeat yourself. If you want to underline a pivotal idea, use stronger words or stress this with a kind of punchline, but repeating it twice isn’t a great way to express yourself in such a short essay.

Ask your friends to become the test audience

Find at least a single person to read your essay and give you feedback. Don’t try to get reassurance from them and try to take critics well. The more errors you’ll correct before submitting the better chances you’ll have when the actual admission officers will read it.

Rutgers application process isn’t very tough. The hardest part is gathering documents, but the requirements and deadlines are pretty lenient. You don’t have to run circles and hurry up the test agencies, the admission committee will understand if the text isn’t ready yet. The hardest part, as always, is the Rutgers admission essay you have to submit at the university’s admission portal.

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Home » Career Advice » Professional Development » Which Colleges Require Supplemental Essays? A Detailed Guide

Which Colleges Require Supplemental Essays? A Detailed Guide

Applying to college involves understanding various requirements, including supplemental essays that provide insight into applicants beyond their academic records. This guide focuses on the supplemental essay prompts for some of the most popular colleges, providing detailed information sourced from College Essay Advisors . On their website they have full detailed guides on over 150+ colleges supplemental essays.

The admissions committees design the supplemental essay prompts to understand your background, interests, and aspirations. By effectively responding to these prompts, you can highlight your unique experiences and how you will contribute to the college community. Below, we have outlined the specific essay requirements for ten popular colleges to help you prepare and succeed in your application process.

American University Supplemental Essay Requirements

American University requires one essay of 150 words focused on community engagement. The supplemental essay aims to understand how applicants can contribute to the university’s Inclusive Excellence.

American University Supplemental Essay Prompt

At American University, Inclusive Excellence is a cornerstone of the academic experience for our students, and we deeply value the learning that is inspired by the diversity of backgrounds and life experiences that all our community members bring with them. Please share why you would like to join this community. (150 words)

American University seeks students who actively engage with and learn from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. In your essay, share a story where you fostered inclusivity within a community and connect it to your vision for contributing to American University’s diverse and inclusive environment. Highlight experiences such as participating in a progressive church youth group, joining the marching band, or any other instance where you built meaningful relationships across different backgrounds. Explain how these experiences shape your desire to contribute to AU’s community and your plans to continue this engagement on campus.

Amherst College Supplemental Essay Requirements

Amherst College requires one essay of 300 words and a series of optional short answers. The supplemental essays focus on activities, diversity, and a topic of choice, allowing applicants to provide a more detailed picture of themselves beyond test scores and grades.

Optional additional identity information: The questions below provide a space for you to share additional information about yourself. This information is used in the admission process to understand each applicant’s full context, as part of our whole-person review process. Your responses will be kept private and secure, and will not be used for a discriminatory purpose.

If you would like to share more about yourself that is not captured elsewhere in your application, please tell us more here. (Maximum: 175 words)

Optional LGBTQ+ Information

Do you identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community? If you wish to share this information, please complete the following question: If you wish to share more about your LBGTQ+ affiliation, please use the space below. (Maximum: 75 words)

Extracurricular Activity or Work Experience

Please briefly elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience of particular significance to you. (Maximum: 175 words)

Research Experience

If you have engaged in significant research in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences or humanities that was undertaken independently of your high school curriculum, please provide a brief description of the research project: (Optional) (50-75 words)

Supplementary Essay Options

In addition to the essay you are writing as part of the Common Application, Amherst requires a supplementary essay from all applicants. There are three options for satisfying Amherst’s supplementary writing requirement: Option A, Option B or Option C. You may select only one of these options. Before deciding, carefully read the descriptions of all three options.

Choose one of the following quotations, and respond to the question posed, in an essay of not more than 350 words. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the texts from which these quotations are taken; we are looking for original, personal responses to these short excerpts. Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay.

“Amherst College is committed to learning through close colloquy and to expanding the realm of knowledge through scholarly research and artistic creation at the highest level. Its graduates link learning with leadership—in service to the College, to their communities, and to the world beyond.”

– from the Mission of Amherst College

Prompt 1 Question: What do you see as the benefits of linking learning with leadership and/or service? In your response, please share with us a time where you have seen that benefit through your own experience.

“We seek an Amherst made stronger because it includes those whose experiences can enhance our understanding of our nation and our world. We do so in the faith that our humanity is an identity forged from diversity, and that our different perspectives enrich our inquiry, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our community, and prepare students to engage with an ever-changing world.”

– from the Trustee Statement on Diversity and Community

Prompt  2 Question: In what ways could your unique experiences enhance our understanding of our nation and our world?

“Strong commitment to the freedom of inquiry lies at the heart of Amherst College’s mission to create a home in which the liberal arts may flourish. As a small residential liberal arts college that prides itself on the ability, curiosity, and diversity of its students, Amherst seeks to create a respectful environment in which members of its community feel emboldened to pursue their intellectual and creative passions.”

– from the Amherst College Statement of Academic and Expressive Freedom

Prompt 3 Question: Tell us about an intellectual or creative passion you have pursued; what did you learn about yourself through that pursuit?

Please submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should NOT submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay. If you have submitted an analytical essay in response to the “essay topic of your choice” prompt in the Common Application writing section, you should NOT select Option B.

Amherst’s supplementary essay prompts aim to reveal more about applicants’ personal stories, intellectual pursuits, and community involvement, allowing them to stand out in the admissions process.

Boston College Supplemental Essay Requirements

Boston College requires one essay of 400 words, with applicants choosing from several prompts that reflect the Jesuit tradition of reflective dialogue and social engagement.

University Convocation Book Recommendation

Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text?

Worthwhile Conversation Partner

At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.

The Danger of a Single Story

In her November 2019 Ted Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a “single story” through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background.  Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?

Local or Global Issues

Boston College’s founding in 1863 was in response to society’s call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society’s greatest needs. Which of today’s local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?

Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants Only

HCE Applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?

Boston College’s prompts encourage applicants to reflect on personal experiences, intellectual engagement, and societal concerns, aligning with its mission to educate thoughtful, service-oriented individuals.

Boston University Supplemental Essay Requirements

The Requirements: 1 essay of 300 words

Boston University is dedicated to our founding principles: “that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community—local and international. These principles endure in the University’s insistence on the value of diversity in its tradition and standards of excellence and its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.” With this mission in mind, please respond to one of the following two questions in 300 words or less:

• Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?
• What about being a student at BU most excites you? How do you hope to contribute to our campus community?

BU wants to understand your social awareness or what excites you about joining their community. Show your engagement and vision for contributing to BU.

Brown University Supplemental Essay Requirements

The Requirements: 3 essays of 250 words; 4 short answers

• Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)
• Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (200-250 words)
• Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

Help us get to know you better by reflecting briefly on each of the questions below. We expect that answers will range from a few words to a few sentences at most:

• What three words best describe you? (3 words)
• What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)
• If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)
• In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

Brown’s prompts encourage reflection on academic interests, personal background, and sources of joy. Connect your experiences and aspirations to Brown’s offerings.

Columbia University Supplemental Essay Requirements

The Requirements: 1 list of 100 words; 4 essays of 150 words each.

List questions

For the list question that follows, there is a 100 word maximum. Please refer to the below guidance when answering this question:

• Your response should be a list of items separated by commas or semicolons.
• Items do not have to be numbered or in any specific order.
• It is not necessary to italicize or underline titles of books or other publications.
• No author names, subtitles or explanatory remarks are needed.

List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.  (100 words or fewer)

Short answer questions

For the four short answer questions, please respond in 150 words or fewer.

• A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community. (150 words or fewer)
• In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant’s ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills or insights you have developed as a result. (150 words or fewer)
• Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words or fewer)
• What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering? (150 words or fewer)

Columbia seeks insight into your intellectual interests, perspectives, resilience, and specific reasons for choosing Columbia.

Cornell University Supplemental Essay Requirements

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement for those applying for Fall 2025 entry, please respond to both the Cornell University essay question and the essay prompt that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.

Cornell University Essay Question

We all contribute to, and are influenced by, the communities that are meaningful to us. Share how you’ve been shaped by one of the communities you belong to.

Remember that this essay is about you and your lived experience. Define community in the way that is most meaningful to you. Some examples of community you might choose from are: family, school, shared interest, virtual, local, global, cultural. (350 word limit)

College and School-Specific Essay Questions

College of agriculture and life sciences.

Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected and specifically, why do you want to pursue this major at Cornell CALS? You should share how your current interests, related experiences, and/or goals influenced your choice. (500-word limit)

Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are passionate about serving the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you were able to have a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (100-word limit)

Optional: Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An “agricultural entity” for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (e.g., farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.).

Select all that apply:

• A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity.
• My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity.
• I have experience working in an agricultural entity.
• I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity.

Please feel free to share additional details (optional). (100-word limit)

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B. Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants may want to to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. (650 word limit)

College of Arts & Sciences

At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences. (650 word limit)

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy: Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals. (650 word limit)

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

What kind of a business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650 word limit)

College of Engineering

Instructions: All engineering applicants are required to write two long essays and four short essays.

Long Essay Responses (200 word limit)

Question 1: Fundamentally, engineering is the application of math, science, and technology to solve complex problems. Why do you want to study engineering?

Question 2: Why do you think you would love to study at Cornell Engineering?

Short Answer Responses (100 word limit)

Question 1: What brings you joy?

Question 2: What do you believe you will contribute to the Cornell Engineering community beyond what you’ve already detailed in your application? What unique voice will you bring?

Question 3: What is one activity, club, team, organization, work/volunteer experience or family responsibility that is especially meaningful to you? Please briefly tell us about its significance for you.

Question 4: What is one award you have received or achievement you have attained that has meant the most to you? Please briefly describe its importance to you.

College of Human Ecology

How has your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE) been shaped and informed by your related experiences? How will what you learn through CHE and your chosen major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should demonstrate how your interests and aspirations align with CHE’s programs and mission. (Refer to our essay application tips before you begin.) (650 word limit)

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School. (650 word limit)

Cornell’s prompts focus on your community influences and specific interests in your chosen field, requiring a tailored response for each college within Cornell.

Duke University Supplemental Essay Requirements

The Requirements: One required 250-word essay and two optional 250-word essays

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you?  If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 word limit)

We want to emphasize that the following questions are optional. Feel free to answer the questions if you believe they will add something meaningful that isn’t already shared elsewhere in your application. Four optional questions are available, and you can select up to two.

Select 0 – 2 optional essay topics

Respond in 250 words or fewer.

• We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.
• Tell us about an experience in the past year or two that reflects your imagination, creativity or intellect.
• We believe there is benefit in sharing or questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?
• We recognize that “fitting in” in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you’re different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.
• Duke’s commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.

Duke’s prompts explore your fit for the university, imagination, perspectives on disagreements, and aspects of your identity and background.

Georgetown University Supplemental Essay Requirements

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words; 1 half-page essay; 2 page-long essays

• Prompt 1: Please elaborate on any special talents or skills you would like to highlight. (250 words)
• Prompt 2: Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (approximately 1/2 page, single-spaced)
• Prompt 3: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief personal or creative essay which you feel best describes you and reflects on your own background, identity, skills, and talents. (approximately 1 page, single-spaced)

Georgetown University School-Specific Prompts

(Each school-specific prompt should not exceed 1 page, single-spaced)

Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences

A liberal arts education from the College of Arts & Sciences involves encounters with new concepts and modes of inquiry. Describe something (a class, a book, an event, etc.) that changed your thinking. (Applicants to the sciences, mathematics, public policy or languages are encouraged to include examples related to that field.)

School of Health

Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care at Georgetown University. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, or Human Science).

School of Nursing

Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying your intended major, Nursing.

Walsh School of Foreign Service

The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?

McDonough School of Business

The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

Georgetown’s prompts focus on intellectual experiences, significant activities, and a personal or creative essay showcasing your background and talents.

Harvard University Supplemental Essay Requirements

The Requirements: Five essays of 200 words or fewer

Harvard is asking 2023-24 applicants to pen five short essays in response to the following prompts:

• Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?* (200 words)
• Briefly describe an intellectual experience that was important to you.* (200 words)
• Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.* (200 words)
• How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future?* (200 words)
• Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.* (200 words)

Harvard’s prompts cover your contributions, intellectual experiences, activities, future goals, and personal qualities you would share with your roommates.

Typical Supplemental Essay Requirements

The supplemental essay requirements for these ten colleges share common themes, such as reflecting on personal experiences, demonstrating intellectual curiosity, and showing how applicants can contribute to the campus community. Many prompts ask students to discuss their academic interests , personal growth, and involvement in community or extracurricular activities. These essays provide a platform for applicants to showcase their unique backgrounds, perspectives, and aspirations.

However, there are notable differences among the colleges. Some, like Columbia and Cornell, require multiple short responses that delve into specific experiences and academic goals, while others, like Boston College and Georgetown, offer prompts that explore broader themes of personal identity and societal impact. Each college tailors its prompts to align with its values and educational philosophy, allowing applicants to present a holistic picture of themselves and how they fit into the school’s environment.

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Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

What do the 2024-25 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

• Liberal Arts (59)

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

Agnes Scott College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

American university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, amherst college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, babson college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bard college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , barnard college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, baylor university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , bennington college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, bentley university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, berry college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bethany college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston college (bc) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, boston university (bu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bowdoin college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, brandeis university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , brown university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bryn mawr college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, bucknell university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, butler university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, california institute of technology (caltech) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, california lutheran university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, capitol technology university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, carleton college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, carnegie mellon university (cmu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , catawba college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, centre college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, chapman university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, claremont mckenna college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide  , clark university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, clemson university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, coastal carolina university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of charleston 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of william & mary 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, college of wooster 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt 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guide, george mason university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, georgetown university 2024-25 essay prompt guide, georgia state university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , georgia tech 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, gonzaga university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, hamilton college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, hampshire college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, harvard university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, harvey mudd college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, haverford college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, hillsdale college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , hofstra university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois institute of technology 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, illinois wesleyan university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, ithaca college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, johns hopkins university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, kalamazoo college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lafayette college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lehigh university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lewis and clark college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, linfield university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, loyola marymount university (lmu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , lynn university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, macalester college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, manchester university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, marist college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, mary baldwin university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, meredith college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, monmouth college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, moravian university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, morehouse college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, mount holyoke college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, new york university (nyu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, north carolina state 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, frequently asked questions.

It really depends. Typically, the more competitive the university, the more arduous the supplemental essay requirements. Most top universities ask for at least three supplemental essays, but some only require one short essay.

The most common supplemental essay topics are:

• The Why Essay , which asks applicants to discuss their interest in their intended major and/or the school in question.
• The Activity Essay , which asks applicants to describe their involvement in an activity that is meaningful to them.
• The Community Essay , which asks about a community the applicant belongs to and the role that community plays in their life (and vice versa!).
• The Diversity Essay , which often asks applicants to explore how they champion diversity and inclusion in their communities and/or how they engage with people from different backgrounds or who hold opposing views. 
• The Short Answer , which asks applicants to answer prompts in very few words (or characters) to add context to their application and a splash of personality.
• The Oddball Essay , which asks applicants to tap into their creativity to connect curveball questions to their lives and interests.

Just like with the Common App personal statement, you’re going to want to write authentically about yourself while addressing all parts of each supplemental essay prompt. Many schools want to better understand how you see yourself contributing to their campus community and/or diversity and inclusion efforts along with how you hope to use your education to achieve your goals. So, be honest and forward-thinking, and don’t forget to customize each supplemental essay so it’s specific to each school you’re submitting to. That means doing research and weaving information into your essays that demonstrates the amount of time and thought you’ve put into your application. 

We have a few successful supplemental essay examples in our Free Resources section.

Each admissions department has their own process for reviewing applications, and some admissions committees put more weight on supplemental essays than others, but all admissions departments that offer applicants the opportunity to pen additional essays are doing so for a reason: to better understand the applicant and compare similarly qualified candidates. It’s in the applicant’s best interest to not only provide admissions with as much information regarding their candidacy as possible, but also go the extra mile. At highly competitive institutions, admissions officers are looking for reasons to remove students from the applicant pool—don’t let poorly written or (*gulp*) incomplete supplemental essays work against you!

Absolutely not. Please do not reuse content from your Common App essay in your supplements. Although it’s possible for you to expand upon an idea, activity, or community that you mention in your Common App essay in your supplements, you should never recycle content or any phrasing word for word.

Start by reading through all the prompts. Next, jot down ideas that come to your mind (no matter how silly they may seem!). Everyone has a story to tell, and we’re willing to bet you’re more interesting than you think. Give yourself plenty of time to consider different topics and revise, revise, revise! Also, our handy dandy Supplemental Essay Guides are sure to help you on your writing journey.

North Park University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Northwestern university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, occidental college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, oklahoma city university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, olin college of engineering 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, penn state 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, pepperdine university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, pitzer college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, pomona college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, princeton university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, providence college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, purdue university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, rensselaer polytechnic institute 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, rice university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, roger williams university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, saint anselm college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, saint elizabeth university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, santa clara university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, sarah lawrence college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, scripps college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, seattle pacific university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, seattle university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, smith college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, soka university of america 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, southern methodist university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, spelman college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, st. john’s college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, stanford university 2024-25 supplemental essay and short questions guide, stevens institute of technology 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, stonehill college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , swarthmore college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, syracuse university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas a&m university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, texas christian university (tcu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, the college of idaho 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , the george washington university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, the new school 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, trinity college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, tufts university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, tulane university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, unc wilmington 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of california (uc) 2024-25 essay prompt guide, university of central florida 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of chicago 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of cincinnati 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of colorado boulder 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of florida 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of georgia (uga) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois chicago (uic) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of illinois urbana-champaign 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, university of maryland 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts amherst 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of massachusetts lowell 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of miami 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide  , university of michigan 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of minnesota twin cities 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of mississippi (ole miss) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of mount saint vincent 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina (unc) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at charlotte 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of north carolina at greensboro 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of notre dame 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of oklahoma 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of oregon 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pennsylvania (upenn) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of pittsburgh 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of richmond 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, university of rochester 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of san diego 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , university of san francisco 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of southern california (usc) 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, university of texas at austin 2024-25 essay prompt guide, university of tulsa 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of vermont 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of virginia (uva) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of washington (uw) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, university of wisconsin-madison 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, vanderbilt university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, vassar college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, villanova university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, virginia tech 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, wake forest university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, washington and lee university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, washington university in st. louis 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, wellesley college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, worcester polytechnic institute (wpi) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, yale university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide.

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Supplemental essay

I know this is Rutgers first year using the common app. I’m confused…do they have a supplemental app or just the personal statement on the common app?

The only extra essay I’m aware of is the honors college essay.

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, supplemental essays for rutgers: are there any.

So, I'm considering applying to Rutgers University. On top of the common app essay, are there additional supplemental essays I need to submit for Rutgers? And, if any, what are they usually on? Thanks for any help!

Whether applying with the Common App or Rutgers Application, Rutgers requires that first-year applicants provide a short, original essay where they are asked to provide insights about their life experiences that aren't revealed through their SAT or ACT scores and grade-point average. The essay must be included in the space provided on the application and submitted on the application form. The essay may not be submitted separately. Be sure to clear any formatting before pasting your essay into the online application. The Rutgers Application essay is limited to 3,800 characters, including spaces. The Common App essay is limited to no more than 650 words. The application will not accept a response with less than 250 words. Please note there are no supplemental essays required for the Common App. A short statement is required if you decide to be considered for honors.

Topics can vary and you have leeway to decide what you want to write about. Specifically, you could discuss significant experiences, community involvement, leadership roles, or personal characteristics that illustrate your abilities and impact your academic performance. The aim is to give the admissions officers a better understanding of who you are beyond your academic profile.

Keep in mind, that the essay should be personal and reflective. It's more than just stating experiences; it's also about demonstrating insight, growth, and learning from those experiences. The admissions team will be looking for authenticity, self-awareness, and a clear narrative throughout your essay.

Good luck with your application process!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

How to Get Into Rutgers University: Acceptance Rate & Stats

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/27/24

Rutgers University is known as an academic, health, and research powerhouse. Read on to learn more about this university and how to join it.

Navigating the admissions process for Rutgers University can be exciting and stressful, but with the right knowledge and strategic approach, you can turn your aspirations into reality. We’ll explain everything you need to know about how to get into Rutgers University.

Rutgers University Acceptance Rate: 66%

Rutgers University has an acceptance rate of 66% , meaning you have a high chance of getting into this school! Getting into this school is moderately competitive, so ensure you have a strong application. 

Source : Common Data Set

Rutgers University Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Rutgers University doesn’t offer early decision acceptance , so students cannot apply at earlier deadlines.

How Hard Is It to Get Into Rutgers University?

WIth an acceptance rate of 66%, Rutgers University is somewhat selective. Students can increase their chances of admission by making their application more competitive.

Rutgers University Admission Statistics

While your cumulative GPA will be considered, ensure you receive the highest marks in these core courses to demonstrate your academic merit.

Rutgers University Average GPA: 3.7

The average GPA for successful Rutgers University applicants is 3.7. Your weighted GPA will be considered heavily in the selection process. Here’s a table of the average GPA of admitted students for the past three years:

This table will give you an idea of the GPA you’ll need to get accepted. 

Rutgers University Average SAT Score: 1375

The average SAT score at Rutgers University is 1375. This is higher than the national average SAT score of 1050.

While Rutgers is adopting a test-optional policy until 2024, students may still submit SAT scores if they believe it will strengthen their application. Although Rutgers is test-optional, those applying to the Rutgers-Camden BS/DO or Rutgers-Newark 7-year BA/MD joint-degree programs will be required to submit at least one standardized test score ( ACT or SAT ). 

Rutgers University Average SAT

Here’s a table of ​​Rutgers University SAT scores for the past three years: 

What Is Rutgers University Looking for in Applicants?

Having a competitive GPA, extracurriculars, AP classes, and other achievements are all part of how Rutgers University evaluates applicants. In addition, having a compelling personal essay and other achievements can help you stand out. From the common data set, the most important factors are your GPA and the rigor of your courses.

Source : Rutgers University

Rutgers University Key Takeaways From Rutgers University's Common Data Set

From the Common Data Set, it’s evident that Rutgers University prioritizes academic factors for admissions, such as GPA and difficulty of courses. Other criteria used to assess students are their application essays, extracurricular activities, as well as character and personality qualities.

Rutgers University Admissions Requirements

To get into Rutgers University, aim for an ACT score of at least 30 or an SAT score of 1375 or above. Maintain a GPA of 3.7 or higher and engage in diverse extracurriculars to demonstrate your excellence beyond the classroom.

Rutgers requires its students to submit the following application materials to be considered for enrollment: 

Academia Profile

One of the principal factors determining your admission to Rutgers University is your academic profile. This includes to following:

• Fulfilling subject requirements
• AP or honors courses
• Weighted GPA
• Cumulative rank
• SAT / ACT scores
• English Proficiency Exam (if relevant)

Other subjective factors are taken into account. These include:

• Personal essay
• College prep programs
• Extracurriculars
• Achievements
• Work history
• Familial commitments
• Socioeconomic background

You should always remember that you’re more than a number. Consider Yui, who leveraged her skills despite having a 3.6 GPA. She applied to 10 colleges and was admitted to 6, including Rutgers, but ultimately chose to attend Cornell Engineering. By highlighting relevant community involvement, Quad was able to help her become a competitive candidate.

Source : Quad Education

High School Course Requirements

Depending on the program you plan on applying to, there are certain credentials you’ll need to complete in high school:

• Four years of English 
• Zero to two years of a foreign language
• Three to four years of Mathematics (including Algebra, Geometry, and, for some programs, Precalculus) 
• Zero to two years of Science (of Biology and Chemistry or Physics and Chemistry, depending on your program)
• Five to nine other academic courses

Application Fee

A required non-refundable application fee of $70 is paid through either Rutgers Application or Common App. Rutgers must receive the fee or a fee waiver before an applicant’s application will be considered complete and ready for review.

GED Students Requirements

Applicants who hold a GED diploma/certificate must provide their official GED results. Alongside these results, submitting transcripts documenting any high school coursework is essential.

English Proficiency Test Requirements For International Students

If an applicant’s undergraduate education was in a non-English speaking country, you must submit a current TOEFL or IELTS score within two years. Exemptions apply to Permanent Residents, US citizens, or international applicants with at least three years of English-instructed undergraduate studies or a master's degree. 

Minimum scores include:

• Paper-based TOEFL: 550
• Computer-based TOEFL: 213
• Specific section requirements for IBT TOEFL, or an IELTS score of 7. 

Proficiency in English is essential, but some programs may have stricter language requirements; consult your program for details.

Letters of Recommendation

Admissions do not consider letters of recommendation, so there’s no need to ask for one . Instead, the Rutgers application offers various sections where applicants can highlight their achievements, activities, community service, and personal experiences.

Extracurricular Activities

On your Rutgers application , you’ll be required to fill out a section about the extracurriculars you pursued throughout high school. You’ll be asked to list up to five activities in order of importance.

There will also be an Awards section where you can list up to five awards received, a Volunteer section for any unpaid service you participated in, an Employment section, and a Pre-College Program section.

The final Natural Disasters and Emergency Situation section is optional and will ask you to check off all the boxes that apply to you. It will include prompts relating to COVID-19 and other circumstantial issues that may have affected your education. 

Talent Assessment

Students interested in applying to the Mason Gross School of Arts will be required to submit an audition, interview, or portfolio as part of their application.

Self-Reported Academic Record 

Without interim transcripts, the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) lets high school seniors report their academic details, including grades and GPAs. It's mandatory for current seniors but not for graduates or transfer students. 

Applicants can use their high school transcript as a reference, covering grades 9-11 and indicating grade 12 courses in progress as 'In Progress.' Ensure accuracy, as discrepancies can impact admission. International students can use SRAR but must also send official records and certificates from an educational authority upon enrollment.

Transfer Student Requirements

Transfer students must submit the application fee, college transcripts, and an essay (which is recommended). 

Rutgers University Application Process and Deadlines

Students must submit a Rutgers-specific application through the school’s online portal. They must identify their campus, school, and program preferences and complete all sections to be considered for admission. Rutgers University decision date

Keep these Rutgers University decision dates in mind to avoid any delays with your application:

Source : Rutgers’ Application Deadlines

Ensure that you meet the Rutgers University application deadline. While students can submit their applications past the suggested deadlines, doing so will limit their chances of admission, as Rutgers accepts students on a rolling basis. 

Students who submit past the suggested deadlines will also receive their decisions later than the listed notification deadlines.

Rutgers University Regular Decision Deadline

The suggested deadline for regular Rutgers University applicants is early December. Students should have their application ready by the end of the year.

Rutgers University Early Action/Early Decision Deadline  

Students applying to Rutgers University as early action applicants should apply by early November to meet the deadline. Having your application ready at this time will ensure you’re able to apply for early action. 

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Into Rutgers University

The most effective strategy to boost your chances of getting into Rutgers University is to increase your academic promise . This can be done by achieving a high GPA while handling a challenging course selection and having a competitive SAT/ACT score. You can also focus on several other qualitative factors:

Participate In Various Extracurriculars

Your application will ask you to separate your extracurricular participation , work, and volunteer experiences . You should pursue activities from each section. While you don’t have to participate in five extracurriculars or pick up a new job each year, you should stick to at least one activity per section for several months or preferably years.

Choose Your Essay Topic Wisely

Your supplemental essay will give the committee insight into your writing skills and help them connect with you more. 

Choose a topic you feel most compelled to write about, and keep your answer simple! Use language you understand and focus on the topic at hand. Proofread your essay several times before submission to show off your impeccable writing skills.

Only Write the SAT/ACT if Necessary

Considering the stress you’ll already be under trying to apply to your top choices on time and graduating from high school with the necessary GPA, you should only write the SAT or ACT if you believe it’ll strengthen your application.

In other words, if your GPA is not quite high enough to be considered competitive, receiving an SAT or ACT score in or above the expected range can make up for this weak spot in your application.

However, if you already have a competitive GPA, you can avoid the added stress and opt out of writing the SAT/ACT, as it will not give you any additional advantage. 

Rutgers University Essay Prompts

Students will have to submit an essay addressing one of the following subjects:

• 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.

It’s important to note that unless you apply through Rutgers Application, these Rutgers University essay prompts are actually Common App personal statements.

If you’re unsure how to get started, take a look at this video, where one of our admissions experts breaks down her top tips for writing standout college essays:

How to Prepare for the Rutgers University Interview

Rutgers University has a list of interviewing tips that applicants can follow. One key theme to remember is to understand yourself as an applicant. This means being able to confidently articulate your strong suits and explain any shortcomings in your profile. In extension, you should have a prepared list of questions that you’re interested in about Rutgers University.

Consider some interview tips from Marina, Wharton and Booth School of Business alumni, who’s been a member of the admissions committee at the University of Chicago as well as an interviewer at UChicago and UPenn.

She suggests diving in with mock interviews right away as a method of improving communication:

“Sometimes you just need to practice articulating things clearly to someone else…sometimes it can be even more helpful than writing things down to just like immediately engage in a mock interview.”

Also, being genuine and authentic can help foster a more collaborative atmosphere with your interviewer:

“Remember to be friendly and smile, and try to engage the person as you would in like real life if you came across somebody interesting to talk to.”

Rutgers University Tuition and Fees

Rutgers is considered an affordable university with lower tuition costs than many similar-ranking institutions. Here’s a breakdown of its annual tuition:

Source : Rutgers Tuition and Fees

To help students cover these costs, Rutgers offers comprehensive financial aid to its students in the form of merit and needs-based grants.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Rutgers provides financial aid through FAFSA to help you pay for tuition. Students may be offered financial aid packages—a combination of various types of aid, such as Rutgers University merit scholarships, awards, grants, loans, and work-study. 

FAQs: Getting Into Rutgers University

For any remaining questions about how to get into Rutgers University, read on to find your answers.

1. How Hard Is It to Get Into Rutgers University?

Considering its high acceptance rate, Rutgers is relatively easy to get into. 

2. Can I Get Into Rutgers With a 3.0 GPA?

Yes, a 3.0 GPA will put you within the median competitive range for the majority of Rutgers’ programs. This equates to a weighted GPA of around 3.7 .

Ensure you earn a high GPA, even a 4.0 wouldn’t hurt! It always helps to aim high and be as competitive an applicant as possible.

3. Can I Get Into Rutgers with a 2.4 GPA?

A 2.4 unweighted GPA will put you at around a 3.3 weighted GPA. This GPA is considered to be on the lower end, but you may still be considered a competitive applicant for certain programs.

4. Is Rutgers an Ivy League School?

No, Rutgers is not an Ivy League school.

5. Is Rutgers Prestigious?

Yes, Rutgers is considered one of the top public research schools in the nation. It is well known for its distinguished faculty, academics, and health-related programs.

6. Do You Need to Write an Essay for Rutgers?

Yes, students must submit one essay as part of the Rutgers application process. Students are given seven essay topics to choose from for this admission material.

7. How Many Letters of Recommendation Do I Need to Submit to Apply to Rutgers?

Rutgers does not require letters of recommendation as part of the application process. The application process provides adequate opportunity for students to describe the accomplishments, activities, honors, awards, and experiences that would otherwise be shared through recommendation letters.

8. How Much is Tuition at Rutgers University?

Resident tuition at Rutgers is around $17,000. Students who are not residents of New Jersey will pay around $35,000.

9. What Is the Transfer Acceptance Rate at Rutgers University?

The Rutgers University transfer acceptance rate is around 55%. On the other hand, the Rutgers University yield rate for this year is 28%. Compared to last year, the number of applicants has decreased by 3.49% (1,507).

Final Thoughts

Now that we’ve covered how to get into Rutgers University, you’ll be set when applying! Rutgers prides itself on being students’ home away from home, where they’re immersed into a supportive yet academically rigorous environment! Keep the deadlines, admission requirements, and tips shared in this guide to ensure you too, can join Rutgers’ renowned community!

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does rutgers give a supplement essay?

, although i think its gonna be the same on the common app and on the website if there is one

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