queens college supplemental essay

Admissions & Programs

Admission procedures and program descriptions are discussed in this section. Since requirements, deadline dates, and fees change from year to year, prospective students are encouraged to visit the Office of Admissions website for details at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/admissions/ or visit the office in the lobby of Jefferson Hall (718-997-5600).

Student Definitions

Applicants may be enrolled as matriculated students or as non-degree students.

A matriculated student is one who has been admitted into an academic program and is recognized by the college as pursuing a degree. Matriculated students may attend Queens College on a full- or part-time basis.

A non-degree student is one who is registered for credit-bearing courses but is not pursuing a degree at the college and is attending part time.

Admission to Queens College is based on a variety of factors, including high school grades, academic program, and SAT or ACT scores. The ideal candidate will have a full college-preparatory curriculum in high school that includes academic coursework in mathematics (3 years), English (4 years), lab science (2 years), social studies (4 years), and foreign language (3 years).

High School Equivalency recipients may be considered for admission with a minimum score on the equivalency exam and the college-preparatory curriculum described above (i.e., TASC 3500, old GED 3500, new GED 740, and HiSet 083).

Applicants whose native language is other than English are encouraged to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores.

Transfer Students

The admission review provides the opportunity to assess the student’s entire academic record, including all attempted and completed courses, grades earned, essays/ personal statements, and letters of recommendation. Applicants should have completed at least one college- level course in mathematics and English with a grade of C or better, or must demonstrate college-level readiness based on SAT, ACT, AP, IB, or New York Regents test scores.

The entire college/post-secondary school academic history, including grades earned from courses taken more than once, will be used to determine a grade- point average (GPA). If more than one college or post-secondary school was attended, the GPA will be determined through the combined calculation of all attempted coursework.

The high school/secondary school record will be considered if the applicant has completed fewer than 24 college credits.

As we consider each applicant, we also look beyond the classroom. Extracurricular accomplishments, special talents and awards in particular fields, and academic achievements in light of life experiences and special circumstances are weighed to determine a student’s potential for success at CUNY.

Second BA Degree

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution may apply as a transfer student following the process described above. Special permission is required from the department chair or faculty advisor to declare a major.

Credit Evaluation

Coursework completed at other institutions will be evaluated after the student is offered admission to Queens College. Transfer of credit will be considered for liberal arts courses completed at an accredited, degree-granting U.S. institution with a minimum grade of C– (or any passing grade from a CUNY college).

Transfer credits evaluated as “499” courses are generally considered elective and may not be counted toward major or minor requirements without department approval.

Students must complete a minimum of 45 credits at Queens College in order to qualify for graduation. Contact the Office of Admissions (718-997-5604) for further information.

Fresh Start

Each year a small number of selected students return to college via the Fresh Start program. Transfer and reentry applicants who do not satisfy Queens College’s general admissions criteria, who have been out of college for at least three years, and who demonstrate a high level of motivation may be eligible for admission through Fresh Start.

Contact the Office of Admissions (718-997-5600) for information and applications. Applications will not be processed if there are any “holds” on a student’s record.

Returning Students

Students who attended Queens College in a matriculated status, left while meeting retention standards, are encouraged to reenter the college to complete their degree using the Readmissions Application.

Students who attended Queens and did not meet retention standards may also apply to reenter, but will need to submit an appeal letter and supporting documentation.

Readmission to the college is not automatic. Applications are available online at the Admissions website. All“holds”on a student record must be settled before a readmission application is reviewed.

Non-Degree Admission

The application for non-degree status is available on the Admissions website. Candidates must be:

■  Visiting students from a Non-CUNY accredited university or college;

■  Casual students with a high school diploma or its equivalent;

■  Applicants who are eligible for admission as a freshman or transfer but who do not intend to pursue a degree.

Non-degree students must demonstrate readiness for college-level work in reading, writing, and math prior to admission. They will be responsible for satisfying all conditions pertaining to non-degree students and their matriculation as adopted by the Academic Senate.

Non-degree students are limited to part-time status (a maximum of 11 credits).

Credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree program if the student is accepted for matriculation. Students must apply for matriculation before accumulating 24 credits at Queens College.

Matriculation forms are available in the QC Office of Admissions.

Applications for reentry with non-degree status will not be processed if there are any “holds” on a student’s record. Please note that non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Senior Citizens

People who qualify as senior citizens may attend QC as auditors. They must be New York State residents 60 years of age or older who have completed high school. Senior Citizen auditors pay $80 per semester. They may enroll on a noncredit, space-available basis by completing the Senior Citizen Auditor Application, available through the Office of Admissions.

Financial Aid

Approximately half of Queens College students receive some form of financial aid. Possibilities include federal and state grants, federal loans, federal work-study programs, and scholarships. You may obtain further information from the Office of Financial Aid ( https://www.qc.cuny.edu/faid/ and in the “Paying for College” section of this Bulletin .

Degree Programs

Queens College believes that the best preparation for students in today’s global society is a rigorous education in the liberal arts and sciences. The college’s curriculum is structured so that all students graduate with the ability to think critically, address complex problems, explore various cultures, and use modern technologies and information resources.

Queens College offers a variety of degrees: the Bachelor of Arts in many disciplines; Bachelor of Business Administration; Bachelor of Fine Arts; Bachelor of Music; Bachelor of Science; and combined BA/MA degrees. The bachelor’s degree is a four-year, 120-creditdegree, unless otherwise noted in the department listings of this Bulletin . Please note that transfer students must complete a minimum of 45 credits at QC in order to qualify for graduation.

Dual Majors and Dual Degrees

Students who complete the requirements for two majors from different degree awards have two choices as they approach graduation.

 In cases where a student completes the requirements for two majors from different award designations, such as majors in Business (BBA) and English (BA), the student may be awarded the degree associated with one of the two majors. At the time of degree checkout, only one degree with one major will be awarded. However, for the identification of the second major: a notation of completion of all of the requirements of the second major will reside in the transcript permanent comment section. There is no CUNY-wide or New York State policy that precludes students from pursuing two majors from two different award designations, and the completion of such dual major combinations can be recorded on the student’s academic record and presented on the transcript as a comment. Nor is there a CUNY-wide or New York State policy that prevents coursework taken to complete requirements in one major from also fulfilling requirements in a second major, in cases where there is an overlap of requirements between two majors.

A second option is for students to receive two degrees and two diplomas. In order to be awarded two degrees, such as a BA and BBA, students must complete at least an additional 30 credits in residence beyond the standard 120 total credits required for a bachelor’s degree . Under CUNY guidelines, students who have earned a bachelor’s degree will be deemed to have automatically fulfilled the Pathways Common Core as well as the College Option requirements and will need to complete all the major requirements and at least 150 total credits to earn the second degree .

BA/MA Degrees

Application to the BA/MA program should be made in the upper sophomore or lower junior semester, but admission is granted only in the junior year. Full details and application forms are available on the Office of Graduate Admissions website at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/provost/ba-ma-policies-procedures/ .

  Important Note: The BA/MA program is an accelerated, combined degree program, with students receiving a BA and MA diploma upon completion of all BA/MA program requirements. In accordance with the CUNY Fee Manual , students are billed at the undergraduate rate for courses needed to satisfy the bachelor’s degree, generally 120 credits, regardless of whether courses taken are graduate or undergraduate. Once the requirements for the bachelor’s degree have been met, all courses (including undergraduate courses) are billed at the graduate rate. Students who anticipate that their course of study will require credits far in excess of the normal BA/MA program in their discipline should consider carefully the financial implications of BA/MA status.

Evening and Weekend Classes

Students who attend classes at night may earn a degree in one of the following areas: accounting; economics; graphic art; Hispanic languages and literature; interdisciplinary liberal arts; psychology; and sociology. In addition, the courses offered in other disciplines allow students to pursue a balanced and complete liberal arts education.

Adult Collegiate Education

Adult Collegiate Education (ACE) provides special advising to incoming students who have never attended college or who have earned less than 30 college credits and are 25 and older. After completing eight general education courses that fulfill most of Queens College’s core curriculum requirements, students may accrue up to 36 tuition-free life-achievement credits based on personal or professional experience. See the website at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/aceqc/ace/ .

How to Apply to Queens College

Queens College uses the CUNY Admissions Application for freshmen and transfers.

Please review the information and follow the instructions in the Prepare section at www.cuny.edu/prepare or the QC website at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/admissions/undergraduate/ .

CUNY Baccalaureate (BA/BS) Program

The City University of New York Baccalaureate Program (CUNY BA/BS) provides highly motivated and responsible students with a flexible, academically challenging way to earn their undergraduate degrees while giving them a major share of the responsibility for the content of that degree in consultation with faculty advisors. The program has three goals: (1) to encourage students to take advantage of the many extraordinary resources and learning opportunities available throughout the CUNY system; (2) to allow self-directed, academically able students, in conjunction with academic advisors and faculty mentors, to design an individualized program of study that complements their academic, professional, and personal goals; and (3) to foster intellectual exploration and responsible educational innovation. Interested students are encouraged to make an appointment to meet with the CUNY Baccalaureate Program liaison in the Academic Advising Center (Kiely Hall 217) as early as possible in their academic careers to learn more about the program and the application process.

Honors Programs at Queens College

Queens College Honors Programs enhance your education by providing opportunities for faculty mentorship, advanced research, and other individualized projects. They create communities of learners on campus in which students enjoy classes that are small in size and emphasize discussion and projects over lectures. At the same time, Honors students have full access to the many resources that a diverse student body and campus like Queens can provide.

The Macaulay Honors College at QC

The Macaulay Honors College each year accepts a select group of outstanding freshmen—called University Scholars—to participate in a special and challenging program. University Scholars study with the best of the college’s outstanding faculty, participate in interdisciplinary seminars that combine cultural experiences with academic study, and make use of the vast resources of New York City. Students admitted to the program receive an academic expense account to assist with study abroad or other intellectually enriching activities; a free laptop computer; and, if CUNY’s requirement of New York State residency for in-state tuition is met, a full-tuition scholarship for up to four years. Students also receive special academic advising, early registration priority, and numerous additional educational benefits https://www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/mhc/ .

Queens College Scholars Program

Exceptional freshman applicants are encouraged to apply for this program. An essay and teacher recommendations are required, and SAT subject tests are strongly recommended. In addition to completing the CUNY Freshman Application with Queens College listed as a choice, scholarship applicants must file the QC Scholarship Application available from the Admissions website. The application deadline is early December. Visit www.qc . cuny.edu/qcscholars for details.

Queens College Scholars offers more than 200 merit-based scholarships of half the in-state tuition. Selection is competitive, and most awards are renewable contingent upon continued high academic achievement. Scholarship recipients must be full-time students.

Divisional Honors Programs

Honors in the Humanities, open to students in all majors on campus, emphasizes the use of careful reading, critical writing, and discussion to study the origins of contemporary artistic and intellectual culture. For further details, contact the director, Prof. Clare Carroll (718-997-3180) or visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/hh/ .

Honors Program in Mathematics Education: TIME 2000 is a nationally recognized, four-year mathematics teacher-preparation program in which undergraduate students receive scholarships and double-major in mathematics and secondary mathematics education.

Students work in close cohorts and take courses that emphasize applications of mathematical ideas, connections between college and high school mathematics, and innovative strategies for the learning and teaching of mathematics. Upon graduation, students get certified to teach mathematics in grades 7–12. For further details, contact Prof. Alice Artzt (718-997-5377) or visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/seys/time-2000/

Honors in the Mathematical and Natural Sciences is an undergraduate research program that provides students with strong interests in math and science opportunities to develop close mentoring relationships with faculty. For further details, contact the director, Prof. Wilma Saffran (718-997-4195) or visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/hmns/ .

Honors in the Social Sciences is a rigorous program of study in the social sciences, offering ambitious students the opportunity to work directly with a faculty member on the writing of an undergraduate thesis. For further details, contact the director, Prof. Thomas Ort, at [email protected] or visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/hss/ .

Transfer Honors

The Queens College Transfer Honors Program is designed for highly motivated and creative students who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree at a world-class college that challenges them to do their best. All students admitted to the Transfer Honors Program are eligible to apply for a minimum scholarship of $1,000 per semester for four to six semesters (to complete the bachelor’s degree program). For more information, visit https://www.qc.cuny.edu/academics/ohs/ .

Percy E Sutton SEEK Program

Launched in 1966, The Percy E Sutton SEEK Program is designed to reach qualified equity-deserving high school graduates. SEEK Students are holistically supported by the program from admission until graduation. Incoming freshmen start in the summer with intensive workshops; successful completion is required for fall matriculation. Students can transfer into the Queens College SEEK Program from the following opportunity programs: SEEK, College Discovery, HEOP or EOP. Additional academic support services such as, supplemental instructors, writing and STEM consultants, tutors, and peer mentors, are available to all SEEK Students. SEEK Students receive educational grants to assist with college expenses, transportation stipend, and two additional semesters of financial aid (TAP). Relevant self-actualization activities, student groups, leadership development, mental wellness, and internship opportunities are part of the program offerings. Each student is assigned a staff counselor who offers customized college advising and is equipped to address personal, social, and psycho-emotional concerns. A culture of student success, reflected in community and support, is embedded within the program.

Delany Hall 128  718 – 997 – 3100  www.qcseek.info    Norka Blackman-Richards  [email protected]   Director

Walter Dogan  [email protected]   Recruitment & Enrollment 

Gary Aguayo  [email protected]   Academic Support Services 

Program Advisors  Rajvir Kaur      Gaslin Osias   Maryanne Chester  Shonelle George  Jessica Perez   Margarita Eguizabal 

Appointments with program advisors can be made via EAB Navigate  https://www.qc.cuny.edu/eab/

How to Write a Supplemental Essay for College Applications

Discover tips for tackling writing supplements, and read a sample essay from a current student.

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A supplemental essay gives you an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about something you weren't able to cover in your main essay.

Prospective students are usually aware that they must write an essay as part of the college application process . But they may not know that some schools will ask for additional writing samples such as a supplemental essay.

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These writing supplements are usually shorter than the main college essay , but they're no less important, experts say.

"Every word counts in getting your story across," says Deborah Davis, president and founder of Davis Education & Career Consultants LLC, based in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Some colleges ask for just one supplemental essay while others may require several.

For example, Wake Forest University in North Carolina had six additional questions for prospective students to respond to on its 2020 undergraduate admissions application. However, a couple of the questions asked applicants to write lists – for instance, a personal top 10 list – rather than a full paragraph or two.

Supplemental essay prompts come in all shapes and sizes. In some cases, schools let applicants choose from several options. For instance, the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill 's fall 2019-20 application included four prompts – such as "What do you hope will change about the place where you live?" – from which prospective students had to select two.

Davis says two of the most common prompts she's seen are "What do you want to major in?" and "Tell us about a favorite activity."

While word counts for supplemental essays vary, they tend to be limited.

Wake Forest has a 150-word limit for each of its supplements, says Tamara Blocker, the university's senior associate dean of admissions. UNC caps applicants' short answer responses at 250 words each, according to the school's website.

In contrast, The Common Application , a platform that allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once, has a suggested 650-word limit for the main essay and 250 words for others.

These types of written responses are more like vignettes or snapshots, rather than full-blown essays, says Stephen Farmer, vice provost for enrollment and undergraduate admissions at UNC.

"I think – I hope, anyway – that students feel the opportunity maybe in the shorter responses to worry less about form and just be a little more open with us," he says.

To help prospective students familiarize themselves with supplemental essays, U.S. News obtained an example from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Ryan Sheehan from Wallingford, Pennsylvania, wrote the short piece and is a computer science major in the class of 2021.

As part of his application, Sheehan responded to the following prompt: "There is a Quaker saying: 'Let your life speak.' Describe the environment in which you were raised – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – and how it influenced the person you are today."

"As the son of two journalists, I have grown up under a lifelong inquisition: How is your room such a mess? Can you please stop chasing the cat? Will you come down from the tree already? Granted, those are all from this past year, but the point still stands. Like any good journalists, my parents have also always had a propensity for uncovering the truth. On the third night that I had my license, I decided to go to the library to study. Before 15 minutes had passed, I noticed the librarian peering at me through the shelves before quickly averting her eyes and whispering, "He's here," into her phone. Even so, regardless of how many spies they've hired over the years, I have always looked up to my parents immensely. However, I have found my inherited inquisitiveness to be a trait most useful in a place far from the realm of reporting: the robotics lab. After four years of spending almost more time in the lab than at home, I have learned that nothing is more important than asking the right questions. As a programmer, I need to be able to communicate with my builders. Come press time, if I don't interview them properly, our robot will invariably end up as a hunk of unresponsive aluminum. To make a machine, the team must work as one. So although I may be writing source code instead of a breaking story, I am glad I had such nosy parents after all."

Karen Richardson, former dean of undergraduate admissions and enrollment management at Tufts who is now dean of admission at Princeton University in New Jersey, explained why she liked this response: "This is a great essay because, in just 250 words, it shows rather than tells the reader who Ryan is and the things that matter to him. It gives us a sense of his family life and academic interests, and it even shows us he has a sense of humor. As an admissions committee, we learned a lot about Ryan in just one paragraph."

Here are five additional tips from admissions officers to help prospective college students craft strong supplemental essays.

Answer the Question

This may seem obvious, but applicants should carefully read a supplemental essay prompt and make sure they understand what it is asking before answering it, Richardson says.

Prospective students may want to reuse an essay they wrote for another college, but that doesn't always work because supplemental questions tend to be more tailored to an individual institution, she says.

Start With an Outline

Applicants may have their own writing process, but Davis encourages those she works with to create outlines. She says prospective students should brainstorm the personal qualities, skills or experiences they would like to convey in their supplemental essays.

Don't Repeat Yourself

Supplemental essays are a chance for applicants to give more information to an admissions committee to further show why they are a good fit for a school, Davis says. So prospective students should make sure they aren't repeating something that's already been covered in their main essay.

Narrow Your Focus

Probably the biggest mistake applicants make in supplemental essays is choosing a topic that's too big, Farmer says. For example, he says prospective students may attempt to settle a complex political issue in just one paragraph.

"I think it's better to do something small and do it well than to do something big and skate over the surface," he says.

Maintain Your Voice

It's a good idea for applicants to ask another person for editing help, but too much input can be detrimental to an essay, experts say. If lots of people – teachers, parents, peers – read and weigh in on an essay, they can weaken how clearly a student's voice comes through in the writing.

"It's great to read something that sounds like it was written by an 18-year-old and not by a machine," Farmer says, "or by someone who's trying to be prematurely middle-aged."

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Queen’s Commerce: Supplementary Application Essay Examples & Templates 2023/2024

If you are looking for guidance on the Queen’s (Smith) Commerce supplementary application , as well as Queen’s Commerce essay examples and templates, then you’ve come to the right place. 

This Application Prep guide is fully updated with this year’s 2022/2023 application (i.e. for applicants planning on starting the program in Fall 2023 ), as well as past applications for reference.

IMPORTANT : The Queen’s (Smith) Commerce Supplementary Essays will be available starting November 1, 2023 . This year’s application, students will write 2 SUPPLEMENTARY ESSAYS from 3 randomly selected questions . Keep reading to learn how to approach these.

Before you dive in, it’s important to understand that the admissions committee receives thousands of applications every year. To help you stand out from the crowd , you need to demonstrate a clear sense of self , strong life experience , and exemplary communication skills .

Our ‘full student’ coaching process does exactly that. If you’re not working with a coach, be sure to read the Self-Awareness , Goal-Setting , and Narrative Communication Skills Guides.

The Narrative Communication Approach™ is a particularly useful storytelling framework that helps you tell a clear and concise story, while creating an emotional connection with the reader. All Queen’s Commerce essay examples and templates use this approach.

We use essay templates to show you a suggested essay structure that uses the Narrative Communication Approach™. Using this structure does not mean your essays will be the same as other students. That’s like saying using the 3 Act Structure makes every play, movie, and novel the same. The content of that story makes it unique.

We also suggest following the 5-step essay writing process we teach, seen here .

If you’re serious about getting into Queen’s Commerce and reaching your fullest post-secondary potential, connect with a coach . It’s never too early to receive coaching.

For more information about Queen’s Commerce, check out our Queen’s Commerce Program Guide and this informative video that one of our coaches, a QC program alumnus, created to help students just like you.

Table of Contents

• 2023/2024 Supplementary Essays: Questions; Tips for Writing; Templates; Examples; and More.
• 2022/2023 Supplementary Essays: Questions; Tips for Writing; Templates; Examples; and More.
• 2021/2022 Supplementary Essays : Questions; Tips for Writing; Templates; Examples; and More.
• 2020/2021 Supplementary Essays : Questions; Tips for Writing; Templates; Examples; and More.
• 2019/2020 Supplementary Essays : PSE List and Essay; SE Questions; Tips for Writing; Templates; Examples; and More.

2023/2024 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application 

This year, applicants are required to:

• complete a written response in 10 minutes (285 word limit)
• and a video response with 2 minutes or preparation and 2 minutes of speaking.

The written response should be completed first, followed by the video response.

While there are no official dress code requirements, you should dress appropriately and have a stable internet connection in a quiet, comfortable space.

Accommodations and technical support are available to those who require them (reach out to [email protected] ). We recommend you practice with your coach for optimal performance.

Queens Commerce Application Evaluation

In the 2024 admissions process, Queen’s is primarily looking at five factors in an applicant (rated across scores of poor, fair, good, great, and excellent):

• Initiative : The extent to which an applicant takes action, especially in the face of challenges.
• Problem-solving ability : The applicant’s capability to independently address and overcome issues.
• Resourcefulness : How well the applicant seeks out and uses supports or resources when navigating challenges.
• Application of Past Lessons/Skills : The ability to apply knowledge, lessons, or skills learned from previous experiences.
• Answers the Question : Whether the applicant addresses the posed question directly in their essay.

Here’s what the evaluation rubric looks like: 

There is also a final evaluation area , called ‘Communication Clarity’ , rated either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Improving real-world skills like communication is an essential part of our ‘full student’ coaching methodology. To make sure you get a ‘Satisfactory’ on the Communication Clarity part of your evaluation, read our Narrative Communication Approach™ Guide and our Deductive Communication Approach™ Guide .

Want to learn how to articulate how your unique skills, interests, and experiences are aligned with these evaluation criteria? Connect with a coach for support.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Written – Possible Questions 2023/2024

Below are Queen’s Commerce questions. The questions you receive will be randomly generated.

As you’ll see, most of the questions prompt you to tie in your own experiences with values of inclusivity and diversity.

Types of questions may look something like:

Having trouble choosing an experience, interest, person, or issue (depending on the question you’re asked)?

Select questions that will allow you to: 

• Highlight key skills that are fundamental to who you are, like leadership, problem solving, time management etc.
• Draw upon the specific traits that Queen’s looks for like commitment and dedication.
• Showcases your values , like making an impact on the world, or connecting with people around you. 
• Be unique and authentic .
• Discuss how you evolved as a person because of the learning outcome that the experience/person initiated.

Keep reading for breakdowns/tips, templates, and examples for both types of questions. If you have questions about this year’s application and need help writing your essays, connect with a coach for 1-on-1 support.

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Program Guide

Queen’s commerce: the definitive guide for applicants (2024).

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Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Written – Tips

Having a clear structure is key for answering questions on a time-crunch. Preparation is key, and practicing with your coach will help you break down the possible questions that could arise and prepare responses for them. You can then adjust them based on the actual question being asked. The worst situation is when the clock is counting down and you are fumbling over thoughts and words, leading to an incoherent and chaotic response – “uhhh, soooo”, “umm, maybe this one will work?”. To prevent this, read some of the example questions below and practice some of them with your coach. Make sure to follow a structured approach when answering.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Written – Breakdown

Queen’ questions are all open-ended and are designed to help the admissions committee learn more about you and your experiences, values, skills, interests, and goals (learn more about how to answer personal questions in our Interview Prep Guide here — these can be used for written or video/in-person questions).

Remember that your reviewers only know the surface level information , like your name and high school grades — they know nothing about who you are as a person , where you come from, and how your experiences have shaped your personality, interests, and goals.

These questions are your chance to make a lasting first impression and show what makes you unique and a perfect fit for the Queen’s BHSc program. 

You need to go beyond the surface and provide deep insight about who you are. The admissions committee wants to see that you know where you’ve come from (and where you want to go). You might not realize it, but displaying your strong self-awareness will help set you apart from other applicants — that’s why we’ve written a whole blog about it here .

If you have completed your Student Identity Blueprint™ and gone through the Discovery phase of our coaching process, these types of questions will be easy for you to answer (if you haven’t, connect with a coach to get started). 

The most important thing to remember when writing these essays is to constantly refer back to the Supplementary Essay Rubric we discussed above.

Using these criteria, the Personal Questions should draw upon a significant life experience , circumstance , or person that helped you form your identity and impacted your life to such an extent you experienced deep learning (Connection) and set yourself on the path to where you are today to accomplish your personal, academic, and career goals (Personal Growth). 

If you need help answering a Personal Question and creating an essay that gets you a “Distinguished” mark in these three criteria, connect with a coach now (and keep reading for templates and examples to help you as you’re writing your essays).

Find the mentor you’ve been looking for.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Written – Template

Here’s a Queens Commerce template for the question: “Tell us about an experience that shaped who you are today.”

COACH’S TIP: While each template will change depending on the question, you can easily form your own template by reading our Narrative Communication Approach™ and breaking down the question into the 5 components listed below. Connect with a coach to talk out your storyline and get started on your template and essay.

• Talk about the initiative you took and why, preferably related to a challenge you were experiencing related to this.
• This is where you talk about how you had to problem solve when you were launching the initiative. Incorporate an example of past experiences or skills you leveraged.
• This is where you can mention how resourceful you had to be to achieve the outcomes you did.
• Summarize and conclude the essay, ensuring answer to question is very clear and coherent and capture any learnings that you want to bring forward for future experiences, such as at Queen’s.

As mentioned above, if you prefer to use a more problem-based approach, use our Deductive Communication Approach™ . Before getting started on your essay, connect with a coach to determine which approach is best for your interests, experiences, and goals.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Written – Sample Response

Here’s a sample Queens Commerce essay example response for the question: “Tell us about an experience that made an impact on the world around you.”

REMEMBER : This is an EXAMPLE ONLY and is NOT meant for you to copy. Why? First and foremost, this is plagiarism and is a serious offense . Plagiarizing these essays will result in immediate disqualification from the admissions process . This can be easily detected using technology and application reviewers are usually trained and/or able to spot when an application isn’t original and does not align with an applicant’s background, personality, values, etc.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Possible Questions

Here are some of the sample questions that applicants might encounter.

Some examples include:

• Describe how you ensure an inclusive environment that respects diverse perspectives in a team or group.
• Share an instance where you played a significant role in resolving a conflict, promoting a sense of inclusivity and respect.
• Discuss a situation where you have fostered a welcoming and safe environment, respecting diverse viewpoints.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Tips

Before starting your actual video response, practice a little in front of the mirror to get into the mood of talking. Also try speaking into a recording camera beforehand as it is different from speaking directly with other people.

You could even watch this recording several times to find areas in which you could improve on. Make sure to be engaging and thoughtful by maintaining eye contact and using facial expressions.

Practicing with your coach with this is especially important as they can help you identify areas of improvement from an admissions’ perspective.

Most students estimate their interview abilities, but interviewing is a critical skill that requires a ton of practice. Leverage our interview preparation guide , find a mentor, a friend, or work with a coach, to make sure that you are prepared to answer any question.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Evaluation

This is the same evaluation criteria as the written response portion. 

• Resourcefulness : How well the applicant seeks out and uses support or resources when navigating challenges.

See how an applicant might be scored based on their level of initiative :

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Template

• Introduction to the activity or organization and its foundational principles or goals.
• A specific challenge or experience faced that highlights the core criteria or theme in focus.
• Steps taken and the results achieved, showcasing growth, learning, and impact.
• Reflection on the experience and its broader implications or lessons learned.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Video – Sample Response

Here’s an example for the question “ Discuss a situation where you have fostered a welcoming and safe environment, respecting diverse viewpoints .”

Remember , these examples are purely illustrative and are not meant to be copied. Your authenticity and originality are key to creating a compelling application. As you prepare your application, our coaching process can offer significant support, guiding you through every step and helping you craft an application that truly resonates with the admissions committee. With our expert guidance, you can approach the application process with confidence, knowing you have a dedicated team supporting your journey to success.

2022/2023 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application 

Similar to last year, the 2022/2023 Queen’s (Smith) Commerce Supplementary Application is made up of 3 randomly generated questions . You must answer 2 of the 3 questions.

Each essay must be 2,000 characters or less (including spaces). 

Here are the important dates and deadlines for your Queen’s (Smith) Commerce 2023 Application:

• On October 1, 2022 , you can start applying to Queen’s through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) (and you must complete your OUAC application by February 1, 2023 ).
• The Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay (SE) is available starting November 1, 2023 .
• The deadline to submit the Supplementary Application is February 15, 2023 . 

For more information about the Supplementary Application and deadlines, visit this page , and for other key dates and deadlines, click here . If you need some help with the application process, connect with a coach any time for support.

IMPORTANT : Queen’s Commerce no longer follows the previous November, December, and January submission cycles as it did for all applications before 2021. Instead, you will have 30 days from when you access the questions on SOLUS to complete and submit your essays . If you do not submit the first randomly generated set of questions by 30 days, another set of 3 questions will appear for you to complete. The last day to submit your essays is February 15, even if you received the questions less than 30 days before that (i.e. if you got the questions on January 30, the deadline is February 15, February 29 even though that’s 30 days).

You can see how many days you have left to complete the questions on SOLUS, shown here:

Queen’s (Smith) Commerce Application Evaluation

Many students ask us how the Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application is evaluated. 

Similar to last year, Smith Commerce makes their evaluation rubric public to all applicants so that they can submit the strongest possible application. 

You will see that there are 3 main evaluation criteria , each of which are rated across 4 possible scores (Distinguished, Capable, Basic, and Unsatisfactory):

• Positionality and Lived Experience . Positionality is the understanding of how your identity (e.g. race, socioeconomic, gender, sexuality, etc.) influences your biases in the world. Lived Experience is more commonly understood as ‘life experience’. Queen’s is looking for applicants who can connect their understanding of their position in life with significant experiences they’ve encountered.
• Connection . Connection appears to simply be defined as answering the question clearly and identifying a clear learning outcome within that answer.
• Personal Growth. Personal Growth is the demonstrated ability to understand one’s strengths and development areas, and pursue 

There is also a final evaluation area, called ‘Communication Clarity’ , rated either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Improving real-world skills like communication is an essential part of our ‘full student’ coaching methodology. 

To make sure you get a ‘Satisfactory’ on the Communication Clarity part of your evaluation, read our Narrative Communication Approach™ Guide and connect with a coach today.

You are also encouraged to complete and submit your Equity Self-Identification Form by February 15th.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Possible Questions 2022/2023

There are 2 types of Queen’s (Smith) Commerce SE questions : Personal Questions and Moral Questions. 

Here are a few examples of questions from 2022/2023.

• What is important to you? Why is it important?
• Tell us about an experience that shaped who you are today.
• What challenges do you find rewarding.

Click here to access the full list.

Personal questions focus on you : your experiences, the people you know, your interests, etc. 

Moral questions prompt you to discuss issues like diversity, inclusion, injustice, and equity, and discuss how your experiences, learnings, and identity influence your opinions, beliefs, and biases.

IMPORTANT: While the questions come out in a random batch of 3 questions from the above list, we notice applicants will almost always receive 1 Personal Question, 1 Moral Question, and 1 either Personal OR Moral Question . 

• Draw upon specific traits that Queen’s looks for like commitment and dedication.

Keep reading for breakdowns/tips, templates, and examples for both types of questions. If you have questions about this year’s application and need help writing your essays, connect with a coach for 1-on-1 support. 

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Examples: Personal Questions – Breakdown

The Personal Questions are all open-ended and are designed to help the admissions committee learn more about you and your experiences, values, skills, interests, and goals (learn more about how to answer personal questions in our Interview Prep Guide here — these can be used for written or video/in-person questions). 

As mentioned above, here are some examples of Personal Questions:

• Tell us about an experience that you did not expect to enjoy, but did.
• Reflect on your background, identity, an interest, or talent. Explain why it is so meaningful that your application would be incomplete without it.
• Describe an influential person in your life or someone you admire. Why?
• Tell us about an accomplishment you are proud of. Why?

These questions are your chance to make a lasting first impression and show what makes you unique and a perfect fit for the Smith Commerce program. 

The most important thing to remember when writing these essays is to constantly refer back to the Supplementary Essay Rubric we discussed above. Your essay must have all 3 evaluation criteria: Positionality and Lived Experience, Connection, and Personal Growth.

Using these criteria, the Personal Questions should draw upon a significant life experience , circumstance , or person that helped you form your identity (Positionality and Lived Experience) and impacted your life to such an extent you experienced deep learning (Connection) and set yourself on the path to where you are today to accomplish your personal, academic, and career goals (Personal Growth). 

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Examples: Personal Questions – Template

Here’s a Queen’s Commerce SE template for the question: “Tell us about an experience that shaped who you are today.”

• Quickly capture the reader’s attention and set up the essay so they know what to expect.
• Set the scene with who you were before this transformational experience and focus on explaining your Positionality (aka position in life). Use a lot of the insights from your Student Identity Blueprint™ here.
• Introduce the experience and details about how it happened. Preface what the experience caused you to do, so it naturally flows to the next section, which should discuss the impact the experience had on you. This is the Connection criteria they are looking for.
• Discuss 1-2 ways this experience shaped you for the better over time and what was the direct result of this in your life. This is the Personal Growth criteria.
• Tie what you’ve said to the big picture. How will the impact this experience had affect your future and how you see the world?

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Personal Questions – Example

Here’s a sample Queen’s Commerce essay example response for the question: “Tell us about an experience that shaped who you are today.”.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Examples: Moral Questions – Breakdown  

The moral questions give you the opportunity to discuss your worldview and beliefs.  

They are meant to gauge how you interact with others , question and challenge certain assumptions, and apply your beliefs and values to your experiences and use them for personal growth . 

As mentioned above, some examples of Moral Questions include:

• Share an example of how you have worked to better understand or experience diverse perspectives.
• Describe a time when you witnessed something unjust. How would you respond to that situation now?
• What advantages or privileges do you have in life and how can you use them to advocate for change?
• What kind of impact or change do you want to create?
• How has a challenge that you have experienced shaped the way you approach life?
• Discuss the theme of equity and how it has influenced your life.

In your personal questions, you talked about your experiences and relationships, and learnings/growth you’ve had from those. The moral questions take it one step further to see how these things have shaped your actions, identity, and outlook over time . The admissions committee wants to know what your position in life is (and how it’s different from other applicants).

Just like the Personal Questions, you want to make sure your answers focus on the Supplementary Essay Rubric. Your essay must have all 3 evaluation criteria: Positionality and Lived Experience, Connection, and Personal Growth.

Using these criteria, the Moral Questions should draw upon a significant experience , circumstance , or dilemma that shaped your identity (Positionality and Lived Experience) and caused you to form, change, or reinforce your beliefs and/or values based on what the impact it had (Connection). These beliefs have shaped how you interact with the world and have influenced the personal, academic, and career path you want to take (Personal Growth). 

If you need help answering a moral question and creating an essay that gets you a “Distinguished” mark in these three criteria, connect with a coach now.

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Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Examples: Moral Questions: Template

Here’s a Queen’s Commerce SE template for the question: “Describe a time when you witnessed something unjust. How would you respond to that situation now?”.

• Set the scene with who you were before this experience happened and and focus on explaining your Positionality (aka position in life) like your values, beliefs, identity, and/or moral assumptions. Use a lot of the insights from your Student Identity Blueprint™ here.
• Introduce the experience where you witnessed something unjust and give details about how it happened. Discuss how you responded to the situation at the time (think of this as you ‘before’ you had the chance to reconsider how you’d react). Finally, talk about how the impact of this experience caused you to react (this is the Connection criteria they are looking for).
• State how you would respond to the situation now (this is the ‘after’ scenario introduced above). Discuss 1-2 ways this experience changed you and how you view justice, and discuss how you’ve applied this to your life now. This is the Personal Growth criteria.
• Provide the takeaway (or the moral) of the story. How does it relate to your life at Queen’s or your career?

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Moral Questions – Example

Here’s a sample Queen’s Commerce essay example response for the question: “Describe a time when you witnessed something unjust. How would you respond to that situation now?”.

Need help creating standout Supplementary Application essays? Connect with a coach now to learn how to communicate your unique experiences, interests, and skills.

If you want to learn more of the specifics about the Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application, including number of apps, deadlines, and evaluation, check out our Queen’s Commerce Program Guide and check out our Queen’s Commerce YouTube playlist for help writing your essays, program information, and much more.

Submit a memorable Smith Commerce app.

Queen’s BCom Youth Coach

2021/2022 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application 

There are some changes to the 2021/2022 Queen’s Commerce application.

First, there are no longer the November, December, and January submission cycles from the 2020/2021 application. Instead, each student receives 3 “randomly generated” essay questions . Each student needs to complete 2 questions . 

Similar to past years, each essay must be less than 2,000 characters in length with spaces.

You have 30 days from when you access the questions on SOLUS to complete them. If you do not complete the first randomly generated set of questions by 30 days, another set of three questions will appear for your completion.

You cannot submit your essays past February 15, so even if you access the questions on, say February 14, you must submit before February 15 rather than the 30-day auto-renew deadline.

The evaluation rubric is now made public to all applicants. The rubric has three main evaluation criteria , each of which are rated across four possible scores:

• Personal Growth. Personal Growth is the demonstrated ability to understand one’s strengths and development areas, and then work to reach their full potential in all areas of their life. 

Here’s what the essay evaluation rubric looks like:

There is also a final evaluation area, ‘Communication Clarity’, rated either Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Improving real-world skills like communication is an essential part of our ‘full student’ coaching methodology. To make sure you get a ‘Satisfactory’ on the Communication Clarity part of your evaluation, read our Narrative Communication Approach™ Guide and connect with a coach today.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: Possible Questions 2021/2022

Below are Queen’s Commerce essay examples of randomly generated Supplementary Essay questions that came up.

As you’ll see, there are two types of questions: Personal Questions and Moral Questions. 

For a complete list of possible questions for the 2021/2022 Queen’s Commerce Application, as well as supplementary application essay templates and examples , see the 2022/2023 application section above .

2020/2021 Queen’s Commerce Application 

For the 2020/2021 application, Queen’s Commerce released their SE questions in stages:

• November 2020/2021 Questions : Available November 1, 2020 and due November 30 at 11:59pm
• December Questions : Available December 1, 2020 and due December 30 at 11:59pm
• January Questions : Available January 1, 2021 and due January 31 at 11:59pm

Once the question period closes, applicants could no longer submit questions from the previous month. For example, you cannot submit November questions on December 1. 

Applicants had to select TWO of the three questions and write an essay for each. Unlike the 2021/2022 application, the questions were the same for all applicants.

2020/2021 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: November Questions

Queen’s commerce supplementary essay examples – question 1.

“Choose a person who has influenced you and discuss the impact they have made on your life.” 

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 1 – Template

Get started on your template here (Click File > Make a copy).

The general structure of your answer to this question should have these five parts (get a detailed breakdown of these components here ):

• Quickly capture the reader’s attention and set up the essay so they know what to expect
• Give some background about you, like who you are before you met this person, where you were at in life, etc.
• Introduce the person and talk about why you chose them. Was there a moment when this person began to have an impact on you? How did your relationship evolve? 
• Discuss 1-2 ways this person impacted you using two ‘themes’. Discuss how this person helped you change for the better over time and what was the direct result of your relationship with them. 
• Tie what you’ve said to the big picture. How will the impact this person made on you support you in your future (in life, at Queen’s, in your career, etc.)

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 1 – Examples

Here’s an example of an essay for this question.

REMEMBER : Please note that all of the examples below are EXAMPLES ONLY and are NOT meant for you to copy.

Need some extra help on questions like this? Check out this video by one of our coaches:

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Examples – Question 2

“Describe an activity or initiative that you are involved in. Share successes and challenges you experienced during your involvement.”

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 2 – Template

The general structure of your answer to this question should have these five parts:

• Give some background about the activity, like when and why you got involved, who was involved with you, where did it take place. Discuss at least one emotion you had through this experience.
• Talk about 1-2 conflicts, struggles, or setbacks that you had to overcome. Use detail and storytelling to convey how hard this was for you.
• Discuss the successes you achieved from this initiative. 
• Describe the ONE thing you learned from this experience and discuss how this shifted your perspective of the world and of yourself. Tie this learning back to Queen’s, while connecting it to the other paragraphs in your essay. 

COACH’S TIP : When thinking about what to write in the Outcome section, choose successes that are completely aligned to your values so the admissions committee can see what you truly believe in. Not sure what your values are? Connect with a coach and get started on our Discovery process, which will help you when applying to Queen’s, no matter what the SE question is. 

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 2 – Examples

Here’s an essay example for this question:

Still need help writing an essay for questions like this one? Connect with a coach and check out this video:

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Examples – Question 3

“Tell us about who you are. What elements have shaped who you are today?”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 3 – Template

The general structure of your answer to this question should have these four parts:

• Discuss clearly what makes you unique, what you value, what you’re good at, what you love, etc. Focus on 1-2 traits that are unique and well-thought out.
• This section should be longer in this essay than others, with each element being 1 paragraph (aim for 2). These elements should be connected to key traits you just mentioned in the Context section as well as aspects of your life that have impacted you. 
• Describe how you will continue to grow your unique trait(s) that defines who you are. Try to include how Queen’s Commerce will help shape and evolve who you are as you described above (and who you want to become).

COACH’S TIP : The biggest thing that will help you stand out for most Queen’s Commerce essay questions is showing the admissions committee that you have self-awareness and are fully in touch with your interests, skills, and goals. Haven’t thought about this much? Don’t worry, most students haven’t. The good news is that we can help you discover who you really are so you can ace these types of essay questions and go after the life you want. Connect with a coach to complete your Student Identity Blueprint™ and start your journey to success today.

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 3 – Examples

Here is an essay example for this question:

Still need help writing an essay for a question like this? Connect with a coach and check out this video:

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2020/2021 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: December Questions

“What is important to you? Why is it important?”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 1 – Template

The general structure of your answer to this question should have these five parts (get the detailed breakdown of these components here ):

• Describe your value in a unique way as well as the background that led to this value becoming important to you. 
• Talk about why this value is important. Did you realise it was important during a tough time in your life? Was this value put in jeopardy? Use the 5 Whys method to get to the root of why this value is important.
• Use an experience or story to prove why this value is important. Give the reader personal insight and provide some credibility.
• Briefly summarize how this value has helped you learn and grow as a person and talk about how you plan on continuing to employ this value in the future.

COACH’S TIP : Sometimes it can be super difficult to understand what values are, why they’re important, and what values are unique to you. As a part of our Discover process, you’ll complete a Self-Aware Student Assessment, so you can find out exactly what your values are and how they align to your interests and who you are as a person. Check out this free resource to learn more about your values and skills, and connect with a coach to become more self-aware and give yourself an edge over other applicants on questions like the one above.

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 1 – Examples

Here’s a Queen’s Commerce essay example for this question.

Need some extra help with questions like this one? Check out this video from one of our coaches:

“If you could start an organization to help a cause or community in need, what issue would it address and why?”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 2 – Template

• Answer the “Why” part of the question by giving the reader background about the issue that is important to you (and discuss why it’s important to you). Use the 5 Whys technique to provide as much of an insight as possible to the reader.
• Talk about the organization specifically that you would start. Discuss the cause it would help and reiterate the issues it would address. 
• Talk about the efforts you’ve made to address this issue. You don’t need to have started the organization you referred to above, but you should show that you are addressing this issue somehow in your life. 
• Explain how you would continue the commitment to this issue going forward during your time at Queen’s Commerce/university and in your future career. 

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 2 – Examples

Need some extra help with questions like this? Check out this video from one of our coaches:

“Describe a transformative experience that led to a better understanding of yourself or others.”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 3 – Template

The general structure of your answer to this question should have these four parts (get the detailed breakdown of these components here ):

• Give some context about you and set the scene of who you were before the transformative experience happened.
• Talk about the transformative experience and give some details about how it happened. 
• Talk about what you learned and how this experience impacted you for the better (this is the ‘after’ part of your experience). Focus on 1-2 themes, while providing specific examples of the impact of this experience on your life today.

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 3 – Example

Here’s an essay example for this Queen’s Commerce essay question:

Need some extra help with questions like this one? Check out this video from one of our coaches: 

2020/2021 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: January Questions

Queen’s commerce supplementary essay example – question 1.

“Tell us something about you (background, an interest, a talent, etc.) that is an integral part of your identity, and why.”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Jan. Question 1 – Template

• Describe the one part about you that you feel represents who you are. This can be a passion, interest, EC, etc. Briefly discuss how you learned about it and why it’s so important to you. 
• Talk about why this one thing is part of who you are (or who you want to be). Give as much personal insight as possible, so the reader can really connect with you and understand more about who you are. 
• Discuss how this impacts who you are today and what impact it allows you to have other others (especially at Queen’s Commerce). Dig deep into the value that this brings to your peers, teachers, etc.
• In two sentences, summarize the bigger picture and how this one thing will help you progress in the future.

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Jan. Question 1 – Example

Here’s an example of how to answer this question.

Still need help on how to answer questions like this one? Connect with a coach and watch this helpful video:

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Example – Question 2

“Describe a problem you’ve solved or one you’d like to solve. Why did or do you feel it is important and what steps did or would you take to solve it?” 

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Jan. Question 2 – Template

• Describe the one problem and why it’s important to you. Make sure you’re really specific here and try to use the 5 Whys Approach to give the reader deeper insight into who you are and why this is important.
• Talk about an action you’ve taken on this problem. It doesn’t have to be complicated (like starting a non-profit from the ground up), but simply show some progress that you’ve made to address this problem. 
• Discuss the tangible impact you’ve taken so far. Use specific examples and numbers to measure your impact.
• Explain how you will remain committed to this issue moving forward. Do you have plans to address it at Queen’s Commerce or in your career? If so, talk about that here. 

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Jan. Question 2 – Example

Here’s a Queen’s Commerce essay example for this question:

Need some help answering questions like this one? Check out this video:

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Example – Question 3

“Think about a time where you questioned something you once thought to be true. Why did your beliefs come into question and what was the result of this reflection?”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Jan. Question 3 – Template

• Describe who you were before your beliefs came into question. Who were you as a person then? Where were you at in life? Give some examples to make it real and foreshadow what’s to come.
• Talk about the experience that made you question the belief. Really paint the picture of the situation here, describing how it happened, why, etc. Then, discuss how this experience forced you to reflect or question your belief. 
• Highlight ways that this experience changed your belief and what you learned from it. The Context section was the ‘Before’ and this section is the ‘After’. Mention how you’ve grown and what you’ve learned, and then how it will impact your life as a student at Queen’s Commerce.

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Jan. Question 3 – Example

Here’s a Queen’s Commerce essay example for this question: 

Need help answering questions like this? Watch this helpful video: 

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2019/2020 Queen’s Commerce Application 

The 2019/2020 Queen’s Commerce applicant asked prospective students to complete two supplementary essay questions, as well as the PSE List and Essay. 

In this section, we’ll provide a breakdown of exactly what the PSE is, and we’ll give you templates and examples for the two essay questions. 

The PSE is an essential component of your application. 

It contains two parts:

• List of your achievements

In the PSE List, you can list up to 5 awards, 5 extracurricular activities, and 5 paid/unpaid work experiences within the last 4 years . 

Within each category, list the most recent activities first . You will have a maximum of 200 characters (including spaces) for each item on the List to discuss the context and the impact. 

Queen’s Commerce – PSE List

Queen’s commerce supplementary application: pse list – template.

Get started on your template here (Click File > Make a Copy).

There are 3 types of achievements you can include on your List:

• (1) Award or Distinction: this is something you’ve been recognized for, like winning a competition, completing a certification, a sports award, or another way you’ve been recognized. 
• (2) Extracurricular Activities: an activity that you do outside of your normal academics, like being part of a club or club, starting a non-profit, writing a book, etc.
• (3) Paid/Unpaid Work: these experiences can include paid or volunteer work, like volunteering as a coach for a softball team, working part-time at your local museum, doing freelance writing work, etc.

Still have questions? Check out this video for more information on how to write your PSE List:

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: PSE List – Example

Here’s an example of an award, extracurricular, and paid/unpaid work experience.

REMEMBER : Please note that all of the examples in this guide are EXAMPLES ONLY and are NOT meant for you to copy. 

(1) Award 

Example: Competition

(2) Extracurricular Activity

Example: Club

(3)Paid/Unpaid Work

Example: Customer Service

Not sure how to write about the context and impact for your awards, activities, and work experiences? Connect with a Youth Coach to learn how to articulate your commitment, leadership, and impact and create a standout application. 

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary PSE Essay

The question for the PSE Essay was:

“Choose one extracurricular activity or one employment opportunity you have listed on your Personal Statement of Experience. In 2,000 characters, or fewer, describe the impact of this experience and the greatest learning outcome for you. Your answer will be evaluated for content and writing style.”

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: PSE Essay – Template

The general structure of your essay should have 5 components: 

• Capture the reader’s attention and give a preview of what’s to come. 
• Write some background information about your extracurricular/work experience. Answer the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, why? Discuss at least one emotion you had through this experience.
• Discuss an event/opportunity that happened which made you change you want to change the activity you were involved in. What steps did you take to make that change?
• Write about the impact on other people and the changes you made by doing this activity. Be as specific as possible, while clearly explaining how it is now vs. how it used to be.
• Describe ONE thing you learned from this experience. Try to dig deeper and think about a learning what isn’t obvious. 

As you’re working on your PSE Essay and Supplementary Essays, check out our Narrative Communication Approach™ Guide for a step-by-step breakdown of each of these components.

Not sure which extracurricular/employment opportunity to choose? By working 1-on-1 with a Youth Coach, you’ll learn which experience can help you showcase your leadership, problem solving, and communication skills so you can write a truly memorable essay.

Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Essay Example – PSE Essay

Here’s what an essay to this question might look like.

REMEMBER : Please note that all of the examples below are EXAMPLES ONLY and are NOT meant for you to copy.  

Still have questions? Check out this video about the Queen’s Commerce PSE Essay. 

2019/2020 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: November Questions

“Tell us a story that illustrates who you are.” 

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 1 – Template

The essay template for this question follows the five components of our Narrative Communication Approach™ to create memorable and unique essays using storytelling.

These components are:

• Set the scene, answer the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, and why?). You can use a lot of the insights from your Student Identity Blueprint™ here.
• An event or opportunity that caused a shift or change from what was normal.
• The impact and result of the event or opportunity that occurred in the Catalyst section. Focus on intrinsic and extrinsic outcomes here.
• The moral of the story. This is where you discuss what you learned and the continued impact of your experience.  

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 1 – Example

Here’s a possible answer to this essay question.

REMEMBER : Please note that all of the examples below are EXAMPLES ONLY and are NOT meant for you to copy. 

“Reflect on something you wish had been different about your high school experience and why.” 

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Nov. Question 2 – Template

Queen’ commerce supplementary essay: nov. question 2 – example.

Here’s an example of an answer for this essay question:

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2019/2020 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: December Questions 

“What makes you unique?”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 1 – Example

Here’s an essay example for this question.

“Reflect on a time when you were treated unfairly and what that experience taught you.”

Queen’ Commerce Supplementary Essay: Dec. Question 2 – Example

Here’s an example of an answer to this essay question:

2019/2020 Queen’s Commerce Supplementary Application: January Questions

“Describe an experience that influenced the person you are today.”

‘“You Belong.” Reflect on what this means to you.’ 

Here’s an essay example for this essay question:

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2023/2024 Essays

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Supplementary Information

Supplementary application:.

This year’s Supplementary Application is being delivered through a new platform for an improved applicant experience, with additional functionality to allow applicants to practice and prepare for the submission of their Supplementary Application.

Applicants applying to Health Sciences, Nursing and Commerce will be required to complete one written response and one video response.

Supplementary Application FAQ           Supplementary Application Rubrics

Consecutive Education Applicant:

Students applying to consecutive education can use the link below to complete their supplementary application. 

Consecutive Education Supplementary Application

How we use Supplementary Information: 

Admission at Queen's is very competitive, and we may use Supplementary Information, including the Supplementary Application, Audition, or Portfolio, in addition to your academic record to help make admission decisions. Each applicant to Queen’s has a unique To-Do List detailing exactly what we need to round out your application. Please review your To-Do List (and the due dates) in your SOLUS Student Centre. 

If you have applied to one of the programs mentioned below and your grades place you above a minimum admission average (as determined by Queen's), we will use your Supplementary Information to learn more about you. Based on your Supplementary Information and grades, you may be selected for an offer of admission.  The minimum admission average and the number of students selected based on the Supplementary Application varies from year-to-year and depends on the number of applicants to the program, the academic strength of the applicants in a given year, and the number of spaces available. The unique demand of the program and the admission circumstances in a given year are also considered.

For Commerce the Supplementary application is  required  and the last date to submit is February 15th.  Queen’s will not accept late submissions. 

The Supplementary Application is required for upper year Commerce students as well. The application will be available the first week of March, and must be completed by June 15th. Queen’s will not accept late submissions.  

Health Sciences

For the Health Sciences programs, a supplementary application is  required  and the last date to submit for fall term start is February 15th. 

The winter term deadline to submit is October 15, 2024. 

Queen’s will not accept late submissions. 

For applicants to the Nursing Science program, the Supplementary application is required and must be submitted by Feb 15th.

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Applicants to the Bachelor of Music, Concurrent Education Music, and the Bachelor of Music Theatre programs are required to audition. 

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12 Effective “Why This College?” Essay Examples

What’s covered.

• Essay 1: UPenn Nursing
• Essay 2: UPenn
• Essay 3: UW Madison
• Essay 4: Northwestern
• Essay 5: NYU
• Essay 6: NYU
• Essay 7: Boston University
• Essay 8: Boston University
• Essay 9: Tufts
• Essay 10: Tufts
• Essay 11: Georgia Tech
• Essay 12: Georgia Tech

Where to Get Your Essays Edited

The “ Why This College?” essay is one of the most common supplemental prompts. These school-specific essays help colleges understand if you’re a good fit for them, and if they’re a good fit for you.

In this post, we’ll share 12 “Why This College?” essay examples from real students and explain what they did well, and what could be improved. Read these examples to understand how to write a strong supplemental essay that improves your chances of acceptance.

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.

Essay Example #1: UPenn Nursing

Prompt: How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying (650 words).

Sister Simone Roach, a theorist of nursing ethics, said, “caring is the human mode of being.” I have long been inspired by Sister Roach’s Five C’s of Caring: commitment, conscience, competence, compassion, and confidence. Penn both embraces and fosters these values through a rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum and unmatched access to service and volunteer opportunities.

COMMITMENT. Reading through the activities that Penn Quakers devote their time to (in addition to academics!) felt like drinking from a firehose in the best possible way. As a prospective nursing student with interests outside of my major, I value this level of flexibility. I plan to leverage Penn’s liberal arts curriculum to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges LGBT people face, especially regarding healthcare access. Through courses like “Interactional Processes with LGBT Individuals” and volunteering at the Mazzoni Center for outreach, I hope to learn how to better support the Penn LGBT community as well as my family and friends, including my cousin, who came out as trans last year.

CONSCIENCE. As one of the first people in my family to attend a four-year university, I wanted a school that promoted a sense of moral responsibility among its students. At Penn, professors challenge their students to question and recreate their own set of morals by sparking thought- provoking, open-minded discussions. I can imagine myself advocating for universal healthcare in courses such as “Health Care Reform & Future of American Health System” and debating its merits with my peers. Studying in an environment where students confidently voice their opinions – conservative or liberal – will push me to question and strengthen my value system.

COMPETENCE. Two aspects that drew my attention to Penn’s BSN program were its high-quality research opportunities and hands-on nursing projects. Through its Office of Nursing Research, Penn connects students to faculty members who share similar research interests. As I volunteered at a nursing home in high school, I hope to work with Dr. Carthon to improve the quality of care for senior citizens. Seniors, especially minorities, face serious barriers to healthcare that I want to resolve. Additionally, Penn’s unique use of simulations to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application impressed me. Using computerized manikins that mimic human responses, classes in Penn’s nursing program allow students to apply their emergency medical skills in a mass casualty simulation and monitor their actions afterward through a video system. Participating in this activity will help me identify my strengths and areas for improvement regarding crisis management and medical care in a controlled yet realistic setting. Research opportunities and simulations will develop my skills even before I interact with patients.

COMPASSION. I value giving back through community service, and I have a particular interest in Penn’s Community Champions and Nursing Students For Sexual & Reproductive Health (NSRH). As a four-year volunteer health educator, I hope to continue this work as a Community Champions member. I am excited to collaborate with medical students to teach fourth and fifth graders in the city about cardiology or lead a chair dance class for the elders at the LIFE Center. Furthermore, as a feminist who firmly believes in women’s abortion rights, I’d like to join NSRH in order to advocate for women’s health on campus. At Penn, I can work with like-minded people to make a meaningful difference.

CONFIDENCE. All of the Quakers that I have met possess one defining trait: confidence. Each student summarized their experiences at Penn as challenging but fulfilling. Although I expect my coursework to push me, from my conversations with current Quakers I know it will help me to be far more effective in my career.

The Five C’s of Caring are important heuristics for nursing, but they also provide insight into how I want to approach my time in college. I am eager to engage with these principles both as a nurse and as a Penn Quaker, and I can’t wait to start.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay has many positive aspects, but the most impressive one is the structure. Utilizing the Five C’s of Caring to discuss Penn’s offerings was a genius way of tying in this student’s passion for nursing while also making their essay exciting and easy to read. Beginning each paragraph with the respective adjective helped focus the paragraph and allowed the student to demonstrate how they exemplify each quality without explicitly stating it. The student wasn’t afraid to think outside the box and add creativity to their essay structure, which really paid off.

Another positive is how specific and specialized the Penn resources and opportunities the student mentions are. This essay did not fall into the trap of name-dropping professors or programs. In every paragraph, there was a connection to something the student wants to do at Penn to further themselves in the respective characteristic they were describing.

Not only did this student mention a resource at Penn—whether it was a professor, a class, or a club—in every paragraph, but they elaborated on what that resource was and how it would help them achieve their goal of becoming a nurse. The what and how is what sets this essay apart from other supplements that just name-drop resources for the sake of it. The amount of detail this essay went into about some of these resources makes it clear to the admissions officers reading the essay that this student has seriously looked into Penn and has a strong desire to come to campus and use these resources.

What Could Be Improved

One thing this essay could do to make it stronger is improve the first paragraph. The student does a good job of setting up Sister Roach and the Five C’s, but they don’t mention anything about their desire to study or pursue nursing. The first paragraph mentions both Sister Roach and Penn, but left out the student. This could be fixed by simply adding something along the lines of “I can’t wait to embody these values as a nursing student at Penn” to the paragraph.

Essay Example #2: UPenn

Prompt: Considering the specific undergraduate school you have selected, how will you explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania?  For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please answer these questions in regard to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-specific essay. (300-450 words)

I always loved watching the worms when it rained. I used to put my little raincoat on, sit on the doorsteps, and watch them move toward the puddles. My younger brother, forever intent on destroying the world around him, would try to stomp on the worms, and I would run after him screaming. In my imagination, the brain looked like a pile of squiggly worms. However, my neuroscience curiosity has since grown beyond a worm’s habits.

For example, my mother thought that I was insane when I wanted to watch American Murder: The Family Next Door . To her immense relief, I was interested in the psychology of the criminal rather than the crime itself. Although neuroscience is my primary interest, I also hope to learn more about the intersection between law and medicine at the UPenn College of Arts and Sciences. I’ve been able to explore this topic through various projects at school such as presentations on juvenile crime and the death penalty.

At the University of Pennsylvania, I look forward to taking classes like Forensic Neuroscience (BIBB 050) as well as Neuroscience and Society (PSYC 247) both of which directly combine my two interests. Hopefully, the Take Your Professor to Dinner program resumes as I would make sure to talk to Dr. Daniel Langleben about his research on forensic functional brain imaging over a meal of Philly cheesesteaks.

I also hope to participate in the Race, Science, and Society Program where I can discover how race biases and neuroscience go hand-in-hand and contribute to the fight against racism. The Beyond Arrests: Re-Thinking Systematic-Oppression Group immediately caught my attention while looking at Penn’s opportunities to engage in relevant dialogue. My fascination with the criminal system began with reading Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment , and Penn will both fuel that curiosity as well as introduce new questions about the world of justice reform.

As an eight-year Latin scholar and a five-time reader of the Percy Jackson franchise, I would like to take classes in the Penn Classical Studies department where I can learn more about the impact of ancient cultures on society today. Classes such as Greek and Roman Medicine (CLST 271) would intersect my interests in medicine and classical civilizations.

Although I do harbor a deep love for Philly cheesesteaks and enjoyment of running in strange places like the Woodlands Cemetery, the range of programs to support my diverse interests and unmatched opportunities to put learning into action make me confident that the University of Pennsylvania is the best university for me to succeed.

The real strength in the essay lies in the sheer number of details this student is able to include in a short space, without sacrificing style and flow. The first two paragraphs really have nothing to do with Penn, but the inclusion of them makes this response feel like an essay, rather than a list of offerings at Penn. Striking the balance is important, and the anecdote at the beginning ultimately humanizes the writer.

From the three unique courses to the specific professor and his research to the race and criminal justice programs, this student has clearly done their homework on Penn! The key to this essay’s success isn’t just mentioning the offerings at Penn that excite the student, but the context that explains how each opportunity fits into the student’s academic interests.

Adding book titles like Crime and Punishment and Percy Jackson to support their passion for the criminal justice system and classics are extra details that help us learn more about how this student pursues their passions outside of the classroom. Finding little ways to humanize yourself throughout the essay can take it from good to great.

One area of improvement for this essay is the structure. It follows a very traditional “ Why This College? ” framework—start with an anecdote, then discuss classes, and then extracurriculars and programs—that gets old quickly for admissions officers.

A great way to add some spice to the format would be to use a sample schedule for the day. This essay mentions three different classes, two different groups, and a Take Your Professor to Dinner opportunity. Together, that’s the recipe for a full day at UPenn!

There are a few ways to play around with an essay that follows a typical day-in-the-life. Maybe each paragraph starts with a time and explains what they do during that hour. Maybe they narrate walking through campus on their way from one class to the next and what they just learned. However they choose to go about it, adding in a playful spin to the traditional essay structure is one of the best ways to instantly set an essay apart from the crowd. 

Essay Example #3: UW Madison

Prompt: Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (650 words)

Essay – # Day 117

7:30 am… As I open my eyes, I look at the pinboard in front of my bed. Written in red block letters are two of the many goals of my life: “Make life better and more independent for the Visually impaired; Inspire kids to explore the field of STEM, making them the future problem solvers.“

Keeping these goals afresh in mind, I freshen up and prepare for the first class of the day, ​ECE 533 Image Processing. As the professor explains the Applications of Image Processing in Computer Vision, a light bulb sparks in my mind. I can modify the head contraption of PERIPHIS to identify objects in peripheral vision and alert the wearer via an earpiece using Text to Speech (TTS). 

After the class, I see Professor Mohit Gupta at the WISION Lab, where he shares his insights from the Block World Cameras system, which helps to geometrize 3D Man-made environments. We brainstorm ways we can implement this system on PERIPHIS.

Deep in the discussion and intrigued by my curiosity, he asked me where my interest in this niche field sparked during high school, and then I recount the incident from 9th grade: 

“In Hindi – Agar aaj mere paas paise hote to ye din na dekhna padta” (If I had money, I would not have had to see this day.) 

These were the words of Aadiya, a glaucoma patient, who couldn’t help but cry in despair as she injured herself in an accident just because she couldn’t sense the incoming traffic. During my visit to “Baroda Association for Blind (BAB)” for a survey, I saw and experienced firsthand how hard and inaccessible it is for an underprivileged visually impaired to locomote without anyone’s assistance. 

What happened next was my first adventure into the world of Computer Science and Engineering. I dedicated the next four years to find an affordable solution to a pressing problem. It was called PERIPHIS, a smart wearable that helps alert the visually impaired wearer of impending danger while locomoting.

When I finally presented this device to Aadiya, the smile on her face made me realize how big an impact technology can make in one’s life.

11:00 am… As I head to the Engineering Hall to complete my assignments of COMP SCI 570

Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction, I crossways with my roommate from the Chadbourne Residential College, who is also interested in researching applications of Computer Vision in real life. We fix a time to chat later. 

1:20pm… After a quick bite, I head to Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory. I expand my knowledge on different applications of Computer Science to make human life better than I found. I get fascinated when I see a few students building a child-friendly humanoid robot to teach kids the principles of Coding and AI. I hop in and share insights from my experience of being the President at AiGoLearning and kindling interest in STEM for young children. I explain how crucial the UI is when it comes to technology for the young.

5:00pm… To blow off some steam and socialize, I meet up with my fellow countrymen and artists at the Indian Graduate Students’ Association. We discuss and plan the upcoming Diwali Night Music at Shannon Hall. I feel proud to share my national identity while bringing out my musical self by contributing as a Tabla player at the student organization. 

As I close my day, I reflect and think of the most unique resource at UW. It is not the labs, research facilities, classes, but the people, including the professors and students, all aligned to a single goal: “Solving problems to make society a better place.”

10:00pm… I find my way back to my dorm room and write with red block letters on my pinboard: “Meet with at least 1 Badger every day and gain new insight from them.”

This essay is a stellar example. The day in the life formatting is a common way to spice up your “Why This College?” essay, but the way this writer executes it is nearly flawless.

Opening with the vision board makes the student’s college goals clear from the very start, and this was cleverly done since vision boards are naturally one of the first things you see when you wake up.

The student then takes us to specific courses and labs and shares their thoughts on how they could improve their invention, PERIPHIS. The author seamlessly includes background information on PERIPHIS by including this hypothetical conversation with a professor who speaks their native language.

As we go through the day, we can see that this student will not only be involved academically, but also socially. We learn how important their culture is to them and how they plan to share it with the campus community.

This essay does everything a “Why This College?” essay should: it shares the student’s goals and motivations behind them, how the university can support those goals, and how the student will engage with the campus beyond academics.

There’s not much this essay could improve, besides a few formatting and wording issues. The first line of this essay—“ Essay – # Day 117”—is a great attention-grabber, but the placement of the # symbol is confusing and perhaps should’ve been in front of the number.

There are also a couple spots where wording is a bit awkward, such as these lines:

I crossways with my roommate from the Chadbourne Residential College, who is also interested in researching applications of Computer Vision in real life. We fix a time to chat later. 

It should instead say something like “I run into my roommate” and “We schedule a time”. This is likely due to English not being the student’s native language, but could’ve easily been caught by proofreading from a native speaker.

Essay Example #4: Northwestern

Prompt: While other parts of your application give us a sense of who you are, we are also excited to hear more about how you see yourself engaging with the larger Northwestern community.

In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.

For as long as I can remember, I have seen my parents, both farmers, struggling to produce food because of the challenges presented by the environment. Joining Northwestern’s community, and majoring in Environmental Engineering, will allow me to understand what are the reasons behind climate change and learn how to stop them and/or prevent them from happening. 

Having witnessed how plant diseases affect crops, I would like to collaborate in the PLANT-Dx project and in its widespread application. I strongly believe that it will be able to help farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their production, and reduce famine around the world. At some point in my education, I want to take advantage of the study-abroad programs Northwestern has to offer and learn about farming practices in a different part of the world. In addition, I want to conduct research on sustainable alternative farming methods that adapt to the new environmental conditions and that can be practiced in countries with fewer resources.

Apart from having access to outstanding professors, rigorous academics, and cutting-edge research resources, I will be able to be part of a close-knit community genuinely curious about others’ activities, truly passionate about what they do, and not afraid to step out of their comfort zone to make of this world a better place. Being part of Engineers for a Sustainable World at Northwestern will allow me to get to know people that share one of my passions in addition to learning and teaching how to apply sustainable practices in daily life.  

I am already looking forward to marching through the Weber Arch.

This essay is extremely cohesive, as it focuses on the student’s agricultural background and desire to study environmental engineering. The student mentions a couple resources specific to Northwestern, such as the PLANT-Dx project and Engineers for a Sustainable World.

Because of the background information the student provided, their motivations for participating in these opportunities is also clear. We can see that Northwestern would be a school that would help them achieve their goals.

There are two main aspects of the essay that could be improved: the writing and its specificity.

To begin with, the intro paragraph is a bit clunky and vague.  The student should have specified the challenges the environment has presented to their parents’ farming with detailed imagery about droughts or torrential rain. The final sentence about climate change is also much too broad, and the student should’ve stated a goal in a smaller niche of environmentalism.

For example, here’s what a rewritten strong intro paragraph might look like:

The drought this year was bad, and the once-flourishing tomato crops on my family’s farm were afflicted with Southern Blight. As my family and our community struggled to put food on the table for the third year in a year, I resolved to major in Environmental Engineering at Northwestern to learn how to preserve our agriculture in the face of climate change.

Another writing error is the typo in the final paragraph, where they write “to make of this world a better place”. It’s important to proofread your essay and have others help you proofread as well!

Finally, while the essay mentions a couple specific Northwestern resources, the other resources they mention are too vague.  The student could’ve improved by mentioning a specific study abroad program and a current research project on sustainable alternative farming methods. Most colleges let you study abroad and conduct research, so you need to explain why Northwestern is the best place for your goals.

Essay Example #5: NYU

Prompt: We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. What motivated you to apply to NYU? Why have you applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and or area of study? If you have applied to more than one, please also tell us why you are interested in these additional areas of study or campuses. We want to understand – Why NYU? (400 words)

“A futuristic way of looking at academics,” the student panelist said during a New York University virtual information session. I reflected on a conversation I had with my grandma; she couldn’t understand how her vegetarian granddaughter could build a career in the food industry. However much I tried convincing her that vegetarianism was the future, as it offers substantial benefits to the environment and can offer health benefits to a growing population with the same environmental resources, she insisted that tofu would never provide the same satiation as meat. She was raised in a community where meat consumption was embedded in the culture, and its production is a large part of the country’s economy. In contrast, I had the privilege of living a few steps from San Francisco, with many restaurants and grocery stores dedicated to plant-based meat alternatives. Trying innovative recipes and products eventually allowed me to develop my own recipes. Upon my move to Nicaragua, where my grandmother is from, I found my food options to be limited, expensive and hard to find. So I developed my own small-scale solutions that did not break the bank and satiated grandma.

An institution that implements forward-thinking is what I need to reach my goals of changing the future of plant-based diets and people’s views on vegetarianism. NYU’s Nutrition and Food Studies program offers multiple disciplines of food studies that I will apply to my aspirations as a vegetarian. I plan to study under Adjunct Faculty Kayleen St. John, whose success in the plant-based industry and her teaching of the ‘Foundations of Plant-Based Nutrition’ in The Vegetarian Times excites me. The variety of classes like Introduction to Food History, Food Photography, and Food Systems: Food & Agriculture will give me an overview of what is available in the food industry to be prepared for all fields. Not to be cliche, but NYU’s proximity to the city is essential for the rapidly changing vegetarian industry. The multiculturalism available in NYC and NYU will allow me to understand the food system and diets of various cultures, religions, and areas. I can explore the extremes of the food industry, from fancy restaurants to public school cafeterias. These juxtapositions, much like the one I experienced after my move to Nicaragua, will allow me to broaden my reach and demonstrate that the vegetarian diet is not something reserved for select groups but a diet attainable to all. 

A core strength of this essay is the fact it takes its time to provide the reader with ample background on why this student is interested in nutrition and food studies and how they have grappled with difficult questions and surrounding this topic in the past. It’s okay to not mention anything about NYU for a whole paragraph if you are using that space to bring depth to your interests and tell the reader the crucial backstory behind pursuing your intended degree.

Another positive aspect is the inclusion of New York City for a purposeful reason. NYU admissions officers read thousands of essays that just talk about living in NYC for the sake of NYC—this is not what they want to hear. In contrast, this essay focuses on the vast and lively food scene in New York that the student considers to be an invaluable asset to her NYU education. This is a time where including New York actually plays to the appeal of NYU, rather than making it seem like the student is simply applying for the city.

Finally, this student clearly demonstrates that they are someone who wants to change the world for the better, but through their personal niche. NYU is looking for people who express this desire to be a changemaker, but oftentimes sweeping statements like “I want to change the world” come across as vague and disingenuous. The essay does mention changing diets and looking to the future, but it is focused within the student’s specific area of interest, making the claim to change the world more determined and authentic.

This essay could be made stronger if there was a bit more personal reflection included. The first paragraph provides a lot of details on the student’s vegetarianism and how it conflicts with her grandmother and her heritage. What it doesn’t include very much of is how the student thinks and feels about her diet being at odds with that of her family. 

Does this student feel they are betraying their heritage by being vegetarian? What emotions do they feel when people criticize vegetarianism? Why did they go vegetarian in the first place? Probing questions like these that get to the emotional core behind the story in the first paragraph would really help to build out this student’s backstory. We want to understand what their emotional responses and reasoning processes look like, so finding ways to include those into an already expositive paragraph would further bolster this essay.

Essay Example #6: NYU

My mother never takes off her Cartier necklace that my father gave her 10 years ago on their anniversary. As a child, I didn’t fully understand this attachment. However, on my 15th birthday, my aunt gifted me a ring, which was uniquely designed and made up of three rings linked together. Wearing it every day and making sure I would never lose it, I didn’t treat it like my easily replaceable childhood necklaces; it was my piece of luxury. This sparked my deep curiosity for the luxury world. The niche strives to provide the finest and most memorable experiences, as equally as my Japanese attention to detail and my French appreciation towards aesthetic beauty. In a constantly shifting environment, I learned that luxury chases timeless excellence.

NYU Stern’s BS in business and a co-concentration in management and marketing will fully immerse me in the business side of luxury fashion that I aim to pursue a future career in. The luxury marketing track, offered only by NYU, will enable me to assemble the most suited classes to reflect my interests. Specifically, NYU Stern’s exciting electives such as The Dynamics of the Fashion Industry seminar and Brand Strategy & Planning will encourage me to develop the skills that I was introduced to and grew keen on when running a virtual sustainable fashion auction.

As someone who has moved around from Paris to Tokyo, to Chicago and now Athens, I thrive in meeting and collaborating with others from diverse backgrounds. The school’s strong global outlook, demonstrated through Stern’s International Business Exchange Program, further sets NYU apart for me, as it is crucial to building essential soft skills. This opportunity allows me to experience new cultural approaches to luxury business which I can bring back with me to New York, and therefore push me to become a well-rounded business student. Similarly, I am excited to take part in the array of student clubs offered, such as the Luxury and Retail Association (LARA), which I learned about after connecting with and talking to current students. Seeing past talks from employers of companies like Conde Nast, I am eager to learn outside of the classroom from future speakers. 

Finding myself in new situations constantly, I always seek new challenges and explorations – to me, it is clear that NYU Stern will push me to create the finest and most unique learning experiences of timeless excellence.

This essay has an amazing introduction paragraph. It doesn’t mention anything about NYU or what this student is planning on studying, which is what makes it so intriguing. The reader doesn’t know where this student is headed after making such a seemingly unrelated statement about jewelry, but we want to find out. 

Not only does this essay immediately capture the reader’s attention, it maintains a succinct and direct tone that helps the reader effortlessly flow from one paragraph to the next. The student chose to include three opportunities at NYU that excite them and fully elaborate on them. This serves as an excellent example of more is less. 

We aren’t bombarded with a laundry list of classes, professors, and clubs the student wants to take. Instead, the student took a focused approach and described why they were excited by each offering they highlighted. Going deeper into a smaller number of opportunities at the college still shows this student did their research, but it allows for their backstory and goals to be discussed in far greater detail.

While this student does a good job of elaborating, they also mention a few key aspects of their personality as throw-away lines, when it would have been great to elaborate further on them. For example, they mention running a virtual sustainable fashion auction (cool!), but don’t provide us with any details on what that actually entails, how they got involved with it, what they enjoyed about it, etc. They also mention moving around a lot in the context of developing a diverse perspective, but they don’t include any emotional insight into what that was like.

Although there are only 400 words available, and you don’t want to spend too much time discussing the past, it would be nice to see just a sentence or two that delves into the details of this student’s background. The fashion auction and moving around clearly had an impact on the student, so we want to know what that was. If they are choosing to include these details, they must be important in the student’s decision to pursue business at NYU, so they shouldn’t be afraid to divulge the emotional significance to the reader.

Essay Example #7: Boston University

Prompt: In no more than 250 words, please tell us why BU is a good fit for you and what specifically has led you to apply for admission.

Boston University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) attracts me because of its support of interdisciplinary study among its wide array of majors. In fact, the CAS now offers a course that combines biology, chemistry, and neuroscience. As I hope to conduct medical research into brain disorders, I plan to pursue all three areas of study. These cross-disciplinary connections at BU will prepare me to do so.

CAS’s undergraduate research program would allow me to work with a mentor, such as Dr. Alice Cronin-Golomb or Dr. Robert M.G. Reinhart related to their research on neurological disorders. With them, I can advance the work I have already completed related to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). In a summer class at our local university, my partner and I extracted data from fMRI and PET studies and inputted them into a coding program. We then created an indicator map, which we imported into another software program, AFNI, to display significant activity in the brain regions affected by DID. Seeing the representation of our data thrilled me because I knew it could eventually help people who live with DID. I want to experience that feeling again. Successfully analyzing these fMRI and PET studies and learning to code drives me to pursue more research opportunities, and this desire motivates me to study at a university that offers research opportunities to undergraduates. BU’s interdisciplinary approach to psychology and support for independent undergraduate research will optimally prepare me for a career as a neurological researcher.

This student clearly outlines BU-specific resources (the interdisciplinary course and undergrad research program), plus how these resources align with their professional goals (to become a neurological researcher). They do name professors, but since their work clearly relates to the student’s interests, it doesn’t look disingenuous, and shows that the student has done research on their fit with BU. The student also provides background on why they want to pursue research, and shows that they already have experience, which makes their interest in the undergrad research program more concrete.

The only thing missing from this essay is the student’s fit with BU in terms of extracurriculars and social life. “Why This College?” essays should also cover extracurriculars, as colleges are also interested in how you’ll contribute to their community. 

In general, these essays should be academic-leaning (especially if they’re under 250 words), but you should still address some social aspects of the college that appeal to you (we recommend about 70% academics, 30% social, with more or less focus on social aspects depending on the word count). 

Since the student probably already detailed their previous research in their Common App activities section, they could’ve just summarized their research background in one sentence (instead of 78 words, which is 31% of the total word count!), and used that valuable space to talk about a specific social aspect of BU that interests them. 

Essay Example #8: Boston University

Prompt: In no more than 250 words, please tell us why BU is a good fit for you and what specifically has led you to apply for admission. 

I am fascinated by research, though completely uninterested in the disciplines traditionally associated with it, such as STEM fields. I need to find a school that will balance my desire to conduct research with my interest in political science. 

While many schools boast in-depth student research programs for those looking to cure diseases or develop solutions to global warming, few tout their support for humanities research. Additionally, many universities that do allocate funding to social science research typically reserve these monies for graduate students or upperclassmen. BU, with the help of its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, will allow me to conduct research on the topics that most intrigue me, such as gender disparity in politics, or the relationship between dominant parties in power and the country’s economy and involvement in foreign affairs. Furthermore, I can begin these studies as early as my first year. Not only can I take classes with professors like Sandra McEvoy or Dino Christenson to develop my interests in a classroom setting, but I could also work with one of them to develop new knowledge in the topics that we both enjoy learning about. With this knowledge base and experience conducting studies with top professors in a respected research institution, I will be well-prepared for my future law career. I want to learn in an environment that encourages independent study no matter one’s field of interest or experience, and BU’s support of intellectual curiosity for all of its students makes it a perfect fit for me.

This student knows exactly what they want, and they’re not afraid to state it bluntly. Their intro paragraph is totally honest about their interests (or lack of interest), and we immediately understand one of their main college goals: to conduct political science research.

The student mentions a specific resource, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, as well as an alignment with BU’s value of encouraging independent study in all fields. Showing alignment with a specific value of the university is a great way to take your essay to the next level.

This essay shows us that the student would be a great fit for BU and would take advantage of its research opportunities.

The writer mentions some of their research interests, but doesn’t explain the motivation behind them. We don’t actually learn very much about the student themself, which is a common flaw of “Why This College?” essays. The essay would’ve been stronger if they’d explained why they’re interested in “gender disparity in politics, or the relationship between dominant parties in power and the country’s economy and involvement in foreign affairs.” For example, maybe they feel strongly about abortion rights and are upset about the way men have been legislating women’s rights.

The student also names two professors whose classes they’d like to take and with whom they’d like to do research, but we aren’t told which classes they’re interested in, or which topics they could cover together. You want to avoid “name-dropping” professors without context in your essay. If the student shared the names of specific classes or research topics and why they’re interested in them, that would’ve strengthened their essay.

Essay Example #9: Tufts

Prompt: Why Tufts? (100 words) 

When Deanne, Tufts’ admissions counselor, visited my school, she immediately caught my attention by emphasizing Tufts’ diverse yet unified campus. Tufts’ inclusive definition of diversity goes beyond merely recruiting students from a variety of backgrounds. Tufts seeks to integrate these categories of diversity and pushes its students to learn from one another. One such intersectional program that attracts me is CAFE (Conversation, Action, Faith, and Education). By joining CAFE, a community that promotes interfaith education, I will learn from my peers, become more understanding of other religious backgrounds, and apply this broader understanding to my academic work at Tufts.

It’s hard to write a “Why This College?” essay in 100 words. This essay does a good job sticking to one unique element of Tufts—its intersectionality. Since Tufts also cares about demonstrated interest, it’s great that the student also mentioned speaking with an admissions counselor. 

We unfortunately don’t learn very much about the student from this essay. Why do they care about diversity and interfaith programs? How does this relate to their academic and career goals? While the word count is super short, they could’ve cut these lines and jumped right into the specific resource they’re interested in: Tufts’ inclusive definition of diversity goes beyond merely recruiting students from a variety of backgrounds. Tufts seeks to integrate these categories of diversity and pushes its students to learn from one another.

Here’s an example of a stronger version of this essay:

When a Tufts admissions counselor visited my school, she immediately caught my attention by emphasizing Tufts’ diverse yet unified campus. As a Muslim hoping to go into International Relations, I want to attend a school that not only recruits diverse students, but pushes them to learn from one another. I hope to join intersectional programs such as CAFE (Conversation, Action, Faith, and Education). By joining this community that promotes interfaith education, I will gain the necessary perspective and compassion to become a human rights lawyer in countries with religious conflict, such as my homeland Azerbaijan.

Essay Example #10: Tufts

Prompt: Why Tufts? (100 words)

Someday I hope to conduct medical research in developing countries; Tufts attracts me because of its wide array of majors it offers and support for undergraduate research. To understand the human brain, I hope to study biology, neuroscience, and psychology. In addition to outstanding faculty in each of these areas, Tufts also organizes initiatives including the International Research Program. Through this program, I would work with other students and faculty members on an international project related to brain diseases. This opportunity will give me a taste of my future career and help me narrow the scope of my later studies.

This essay does a better job of sharing the student’s goals with us compared to the previous Tufts essay. We learn that the applicant is interested in medical research in developing countries on brain diseases, and that Tufts has a program to support international research.

The essay still mentions some resources that could apply to many schools, which is not an effective use of the tiny word count. For example, they say: “Tufts attracts me because of its wide array of majors it offers and support for undergraduate research” and they mention the “outstanding faculty” in the fields they plan to study.

They also don’t tell us their motivation behind studying brain diseases abroad, and it feels like there’s a significant story there. Giving some background would’ve further strengthened their essay.

Finally, they mention that they still need to narrow the scope of their studies; while it’s fine to be undecided on your career and majors, you don’t need to spend your precious word count saying that in your essay. They could’ve instead shared a couple potential avenues they’re considering.

Here’s what the student could’ve written instead:

Outcomes for schizophrenia patients are better in developing countries than in developed ones. I hope to research the reasons behind this and improve the treatment options in the US for the cousin I grew up with. In college, I want to study biology, neuroscience, and psychology. Tufts attracts me because of its unique interdisciplinary BS in Cognitive and Brain Science and its International Research Program. Through this program, I could do the research I’ve dreamt of doing with a faculty member and other students, preparing me for my future career as either a researcher or clinician.

Essay Example #11: Georgia Tech

Prompt: Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech? (300 words)

Climate change is a human rights issue.  

There the headline was, screaming on my phone screen. I think about those suffering from a lack of clean water. I think about those suffering from a lack of clean air. 

I often think back to that headline – it’s what drives my passion for environmental engineering. As an environmental engineer, I can mitigate air pollution and design water treatment systems that address the water injustices that people face. However, it’s not just about creating a technology that cleans water; it’s about changing people’s lives. New technologies can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues worldwide; Georgia Tech’s research on creating a toilet that turns human waste into clean water for those in need of improved sanitation aligns perfectly with my interests.   

At Georgia Tech, through the student-led organization, Engineers for a Sustainable World and the InVenture Prize, I can translate the knowledge gained from my classes into a concrete vision. I can design and implement hands-on sustainability projects around Atlanta and invent a water sanitation system for the on-site acquisition of clean water. 

Georgia Tech can also provide me with ample research opportunities, such as the broad area of Healthy Communities in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I can further pursue my interest in developing solutions to deliver clean water while welcoming new areas of inquiry. An area I would like to explore would be the controlling of dangerous matter in the air to reduce health hazards; reducing the impact of climate change is of utmost importance to me. 

Studying environmental engineering at Georgia Tech would well prepare me to develop solutions to climate-related issues. With the countless opportunities that Georgia Tech has to offer, I know there is nowhere else where I can receive a better environmental engineering education.

What the Essay Did Well l

This essay begins with an attention-grabbing statement that leaves the reader wondering how this will relate to the student’s interest in Georgia Tech. They then transition seamlessly into how climate change and human rights motivate their desire to become an environmental engineer.

The student mentions several resources specific to Georgia Tech that would help them achieve their goals, such as the research on the toilet turning waste into water, Engineers for a Sustainable World, InVenture Prize, and Healthy Communities research. It’s clear that they did their research and have reflected on their fit with the campus community.

They end the essay explicitly stating that Georgia Tech is the best place for them to grow, and the reader is certainly convinced of this by the end.

This essay is quite strong, so there’s not much that the student could’ve improved. That said, there is one sentence that is a bit awkwardly worded: New technologies can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues worldwide; Georgia Tech’s research on creating a toilet that turns human waste into clean water for those in need of improved sanitation aligns perfectly with my interests.

Instead, the student could’ve written:

New technologies can make a lasting difference in humanitarian issues worldwide; Georgia Tech aligns with this value of mine and is even developing a toilet that turns human waste into clean water for those who need improved sanitation.

Essay Example #12: Georgia Tech

From my first Java project, a somewhat primitive graphing calculator, I realized that CS unlocks a different way of thinking. My brain races at speeds it seldom touches with other subjects. Every part of CS, from conceptualizing a plan to executing a solution, is another piece of a puzzle I’m eager to solve and affords the most opportunities for creative problem-solving and application. 

“Progress and Service,” Georgia Tech’s motto, tells me there’s no better place to explore my curiosity and deepen my CS skills while simultaneously helping make the world a better place, my ultimate goal for a college education. 

In the classroom, I look forward to GT’s threads program, where I can tailor the curriculum to suit my career choice after exposing myself to all technical aspects of CS.

I’ll apply my specialized learning with Tech’s fascinating research opportunities. Professor Pandarinth’s brain-machine interfacing software means a lot to me. My uncle passed away from a freak accident after extensive paralysis because potential treatments were unaffordable. Exploring this revolutionary brain decoding software wouldn’t just involve me in cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology research, I’d be personally driven to ensure its success and accessibility. 

I’m at my best building towards tangible results. I learned this on my robotics team using design skills to create a technically complex robot that tackles anything from shooting balls to hanging on a balance beam. I’m excited to expand my skills on the RoboJackets team, applying my career interests to build ferocious BattleBots and autonomous race robots that compete on the Indy Speedway, two events that sound ridiculously fun. 

Of course, I can’t skip hackathons. These competitions molded my interest in coding so I want to give back to Georgia Tech’s Hack-Community by planning HackGT and the Catalyst Mentorship program as a member of the Hexlabs team. 

The student’s passion for CS shines through this essay. They explain what they love about the subject (the problem-solving aspect) and they share that they hope to make a difference through CS, demonstrating alignment with Tech’s motto of  “progress and service”.

It’s clear that this student has done their research, mentioning specific academic programs, research, and clubs. We can see that they’d be greatly engaged with the campus community.

Finally, this essay is also down-to-earth. The student doesn’t try to use impressive vocabulary or formal language. In fact, they even describe some extracurriculars as “ridiculously fun.” While you shouldn’t get too informal in your essays, this student’s casual tone in this context makes them feel more approachable and more excited about the prospect of going to Georgia Tech.

This essay has a couple sentences that are confusing to read:

Every part of CS, from conceptualizing a plan to executing a solution, is another piece of a puzzle I’m eager to solve and affords the most opportunities for creative problem-solving and application.

This sentence could’ve been broken up and rewritten as:

Every part of CS, from conceptualizing a plan to executing a solution, is another piece of a puzzle I’m eager to solve. For me, the field affords the most opportunities for creative problem-solving and application.

This sentence also uses incorrect grammar—the comma should be replaced with a semicolon:

Exploring this revolutionary brain decoding software wouldn’t just involve me in cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology research, I’d be personally driven to ensure its success and accessibility. 

These details would make the essay more readable.

The organization of the essay could also be reworked. The student mentions Tech’s motto of “progress and service,” but doesn’t follow up until later with an example of how they’d use CS for the greater good. Using CS for social good isn’t ultimately the theme of their essay, so this section would’ve been better placed at the end of the paragraph about AI technology research, or at the very end of the essay. The essay actually ends abruptly, so placing the section at the end might’ve tied it up nicely, if the student could’ve placed more emphasis on how they plan to use CS to improve society.

Do you want feedback on your “Why This College” essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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Freshman Admission

You are considered a freshman applicant if you are a senior in high school or a high school equivalency graduate who has not enrolled in another college/university, or if you are currently an Early College high school student.

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General admission criteria, the college essay, submitting ap and college credit, students educated outside the u.s., selective majors and programs, seek opportunity program, application status, questions and assistance, apply to hunter.

To be considered for freshman admission to Hunter, you must complete a CUNY Admission Application, pay the fee, and submit all supporting documents.

Fall Admission

*Hard deadline. Late applications to the Macaulay Honors College will not be considered.

Spring Admission

Hunter College will continue to accept and review completed General Freshman Admission Applications after the priority deadline on a space-availability basis.

A completed application includes your online Admission Application, all supporting documentation, and the online application fee or fee waiver (if applicable).

Hunter College encourages students to apply who have demonstrated academic success with the potential to grow and contribute to the Hunter community. In addition to your completed Admission Application, the admission review process includes consideration of the following:

• High school/secondary school transcript/diploma or equivalent
• Overall Grade Point Average (GPA) and success in individual subjects
• SAT/ACT Scores
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• College essay
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• Official TOEFL, EILTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Language Test scores (for students on an F1/J1 visa and were educated in a non-English speaking environment outside of the US)

Hunter College will be test optional for the Fall 2023 – Spring 2027 semesters.

We strongly encourage students submit their SAT/ACT scores to help provide additional context to their application, especially students applying for merit scholarship programs (Freshman Honors, Macaulay etc.). However, students who do not submit scores will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process. Admission to Hunter is based on a comprehensive review of a student’s academic record including overall grade point average, strength of curriculum, and other factors such as co-curricular activities, community involvement, evidence of leadership, and special talents.

An essay of 500 words or less is required along with your CUNY Admission Application to Hunter College. Review the essay topics below.

Tell us something meaningful about yourself that is not reflected in your application. You may choose to speak about your interests, aspirations and/or background.

It is often said that the road to success is paved with setbacks. Tell us about a time you faced a challenge or obstacle. What did you learn from it, and how did it contribute to your success?

Share an essay on any topic. You may use an essay that you have previously written or one that discusses a topic of your choice.

Hunter College accepts Advanced Placement (AP) for transfer credit. Students who completed Advanced Placement (AP) courses in secondary school and who passed the AP Tests of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) with a grade of 4 and above will receive credit for the equivalent requirement at Hunter. Students with grades of 3 may also receive credit for corresponding courses or elective credit.

• Review Exact AP Exam Equivalencies Chart
• More information on CollegeBoard AP score reporting

How to submit your scores  To have your test scores sent directly to Hunter College, enter the Hunter College code number, 2301, when prompted for your "Score Report Recipient" at the time of your examination.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Hunter College participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), which provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement through a program of exams in undergraduate college courses. Registered degree-seeking Hunter students may receive college credit by completing certain CLEP Subject Examinations and earning specified scores.

• Learn about Exact CLEP Exam Equivalencies
• Get information on scheduling the CLEP exam at Hunter
• For more information on CLEP, visit the CollegeBoard CLEP

How to submit your scores To have your test scores sent directly to Hunter College, enter the Hunter College code number, 2301, when prompted for your "Score Report Recipient" at the time of your examination.

Hunter College will conduct an evaluation of college courses to ensure appropriate transfer credit can be awarded. Students who took college courses while in high school should request for their official college transcripts to be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Hunter College.

How to Submit Your Scores

To have your test scores sent directly to Hunter College, please have them mailed to Transfer Course Evaluation, 695 Park Avenue, Room 203N New York, NY 10065 or sent to [email protected] electronically. View the Accepted IB Credits chart below.

Students educated outside of the United States are required to submit official transcripts from all previous secondary and post-secondary schools. All non-English transcripts and associated documents must also be translated (PDF).

Applicants have the following two options for submission:

SpanTran is Hunter College’s recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for Hunter College that helps ensure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate! Students that submit their documents to SpanTran should expect to see an update on their CUNY Application about 3-4 weeks after submission.

Fill out the SpanTran Application

Students may submit official transcript(s) and a certified translation of all official documents   directly to CUNY. Students submitting documents directly to CUNY should expect to see an update on their CUNY Application about 10-12 weeks after submission.

Additional resources for submitting required documentation:

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As a freshman applicant, we encourage you to select your intended major on your Admission Application; however, incoming freshmen are admitted to Hunter College and not directly to specific academic majors and/or programs.

Please note that the following selective programs will require an additional application process after you have been admitted and completed the required prerequisite coursework as a Hunter student.

For more information on what to expect later, visit the  Selective Programs Overview  page.

• Public Health
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• School of Education

Once you have submitted your Admission Application, please contact the music department to schedule your audition.

Students interested in the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College must submit a Macaulay Honors College Application before the deadline. Additional information on the program can be found on the Macaulay Honors College  website.

Students interested in one of the Freshman Scholar Programs at Hunter must apply to the programs of interest after submitting the CUNY application. For more information, please visit the  Freshman Scholar Program website .

The Percy Ellis Sutton Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) program is a higher education opportunity program that provides academic and financial support to students who qualify based on specific income and academic criteria.

• SEEK at CUNY
• SEEK at Hunter

If you feel like SEEK at Hunter is right for you, please indicate your interest on your Admission Application. Review the financial criteria  before applying.

To learn how to check the status of your Admission Application and/or to report an error with your application, click the link below.

For help completing your online Admission Application, contact an Admissions Counselor .

A great way to learn more about us is to sign-up for an Admissions Information Session. Our information sessions are offered both in person and virtually, and allow ample time to ask questions live with a member of our admissions team.

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Can someone help me find the supplemental essay 2021 -2022for queen of university and unc of Charlotte Answered

I heard the essay opens on August 1 but I still can’t find it.

Earn karma by helping others:

For the Queens University of Charlotte, there is an option to writing a 500-word supplemental essay on their online application.

6. Writing supplement

There is an option on our application to submit a short-answer (up to 500 word) essay. This is another great element to strengthen your application.

For UNC Charlotte, you can pick from any of the standard Common App prompts, there is no additional essay requirement.

Common Application Essay Prompts

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.

So you have to start the application in order to see the essay.

That's what the Queen's website states if you want to submit the optional essay.

It seems like both of these school don't have supplemental essays on the Common App. You can check the school website to see if there are additional essay questions that must be answered for the admissions process.

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