Colleges Are Dropping Supplemental Essays and Adding Dialogues. What Does This Mean for Applicants?
Over the past year, I've noticed two admissions trends happening at the same time. Some colleges are reducing or eliminating supplemental essays, while others are experimenting with new ways to evaluate applicants through programs like Dialogues.
While these changes may seem unrelated, they actually point to the same goal: colleges are looking for more authentic ways to understand students beyond grades, test scores, and traditional essays.
As a college counselor with more than 20 years of experience, I don't believe these changes make admissions easier. In many ways, they make it even more important for students to understand how they are presenting themselves throughout the entire application.
Here's what families need to know.
Why Are Some Colleges Dropping Supplemental Essays?
Application numbers continue to rise, making it increasingly difficult for admissions offices to review every application in depth. Colleges are also looking for ways to reduce barriers to applying and create a more accessible process for students.
At the same time, many colleges are exploring new methods of evaluating applicants beyond traditional essays.
But here's the important thing for students and families to understand:
Just because a college removes a supplemental essay doesn't mean they need less information about you.
It simply means they're gathering that information in different ways.
Does Dropping Supplemental Essays Make Admissions Easier?
No.
Students often hear "fewer essays" and assume there is less work involved.
What actually happens is that colleges place greater emphasis on the information they still receive.
This includes:
Academic rigor
Grades and course selection
Activities and leadership
Recommendation letters
Interviews
Demonstrated interest
The Common App Personal Statement
In many cases, students actually have fewer opportunities to explain who they are. That means every remaining component of the application carries more weight.
Should Students Complete Optional Essays?
This is one of the most common questions I receive every admissions season.
My answer is almost always the same:
Yes.
I often tell my students that "optional" is rarely truly optional.
If a college gives you an opportunity to provide additional information about yourself, demonstrate interest, or showcase your writing, I generally recommend taking advantage of that opportunity.
Of course, there are exceptions. A rushed, generic response written simply to check a box can do more harm than good.
But a thoughtful essay that helps admissions officers better understand who you are can absolutely strengthen an application.
The same philosophy applies to optional personal statements, optional interviews, and other supplemental opportunities.
My advice has always been simple: if a college offers you another chance to tell your story, take it.
The Personal Statement Matters More Than Ever
As some colleges reduce supplemental writing requirements, the Common App Personal Statement becomes even more important.
For many schools, it may be the only substantial piece of writing an admissions officer receives from a student.
This is why I spend so much time helping students brainstorm before they begin writing.
The strongest essays are not necessarily written by the strongest writers. They are written by students who are reflective, self-aware, and willing to share a meaningful story.
The topic itself is often less important than what the story reveals about the student.
What Are Dialogues?
One of the most interesting developments I've seen recently is the introduction of Dialogues through Schoolhouse, the nonprofit educational platform founded by Sal Khan of Khan Academy.
Dialogues are structured conversations between students who may have different viewpoints, backgrounds, experiences, or perspectives. Rather than debating or trying to "win" an argument, students practice listening, communicating thoughtfully, and engaging respectfully with complex topics.
Students who participate can build a Schoolhouse Portfolio that showcases these experiences and demonstrates qualities colleges have always valued but have often struggled to measure through grades, test scores, and essays alone.
These qualities include:
Intellectual curiosity
Communication skills
Critical thinking
Open-mindedness
Empathy
Respectful engagement with differing viewpoints
Which Colleges Are Using Dialogues?
Several highly selective colleges have begun accepting or recognizing Schoolhouse Portfolios and Dialogue-related submissions as part of their application review process.
Participating institutions have included:
Northwestern University
Johns Hopkins University
Washington University in St. Louis
Colby College
Vanderbilt University
Columbia University
University of Chicago
I believe this list will continue to evolve as colleges experiment with new ways to evaluate applicants.
What's important isn't just which colleges are participating. It's what these programs reveal about what admissions offices value.
What Do Dialogues Tell Us About the Future of Admissions?
For years, colleges relied heavily on grades, test scores, activities, and essays to evaluate applicants.
Now they are asking additional questions:
How does this student think?
Can they communicate effectively?
Are they intellectually curious?
Can they engage with people who have different perspectives?
What kind of community member will they be?
As AI continues to change the way students learn, write, and communicate, colleges are increasingly looking for opportunities to see students engage in authentic conversations, demonstrate intellectual curiosity, and interact respectfully with differing viewpoints.
Programs like Dialogues may be one glimpse into the future of admissions.
Colleges aren't moving away from understanding students as people. They're actually looking for more authentic ways to do it.
What Should Students Focus on Right Now?
If you're a rising senior, don't spend your summer worrying about whether a college requires one essay, five essays, or no essays.
Instead, focus on building a strong application foundation.
Complete your Common App profile.
Begin brainstorming your Personal Statement.
Pursue activities that genuinely interest you.
Seek out shadowing opportunities in potential career fields.
Build meaningful relationships with teachers who may write recommendations.
Continue challenging yourself academically.
The students who will thrive in this changing admissions landscape are not necessarily the students with the longest resumes.
They are the students who have spent time exploring their interests, developing their voice, and reflecting on who they are.
At Admissions by Design, we've never focused on helping students build the perfect application. We've focused on helping students build a meaningful high school experience and then tell that story effectively.
Whether colleges require ten essays, one essay, or no essays at all, that approach will never go out of style.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are colleges getting rid of supplemental essays?
Some colleges have reduced or eliminated supplemental essays, while others continue to require them. Requirements vary by institution and can change from year to year.
Should I complete an optional college essay?
In most cases, yes. If you have something meaningful to add and can submit a thoughtful response, I generally recommend completing optional essays.
What is the Schoolhouse Dialogues program?
Dialogues are structured conversations through Schoolhouse that help students develop and demonstrate communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and respectful engagement with different viewpoints.
Which colleges recognize Schoolhouse Portfolios?
Participating colleges continue to evolve, but schools such as Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, Colby, Vanderbilt, Columbia, and the University of Chicago have been involved in Schoolhouse Portfolio initiatives.
What matters most if a college doesn't require supplemental essays?
Academic rigor, grades, activities, recommendation letters, demonstrated interest, and the Common App Personal Statement all become increasingly important when there are fewer supplemental writing opportunities.
About the Author
Kara McMahon is the founder of Admissions by Design and has worked in college admissions counseling for more than 20 years. A former high school counselor and Villanova alumni interviewer, she has helped students gain admission to colleges including Northwestern, Georgetown, Amherst, Boston College, Villanova, Wisconsin, and many others. Kara specializes in helping students build authentic, strategic applications that reflect who they are beyond grades and test scores.Paragraph 1
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