Blog posts on college admissions by Arjun Seth
Wake Forest University application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Early Decision - 11/15/2014
List five books you have read (with authors) that piqued your interest. Discuss an idea from one of these works that influenced you.
(100-300 words)
What outrages you? Why?
(75-150 words)
Give us your top ten list.
Our incoming freshman class is reading the book “Choosing Civility” by P. M. Forni. What do you see as the biggest threat to civility?
(75-150 words)
Some say that social media is superficial, with no room for expressing deep or complex ideas. We challenge you to defy these skeptics by describing yourself as fully and accurately as possible in the 140-character limit of a tweet.
Describe an academic or intellectual project, experience or pursuit of which you are particularly proud.
(75-150 words)
University of Notre Dame application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Restrictive Early Action - 11/01/2014
- Why Notre Dame? (required response 150-200 words)
- Please select two of the following four prompts and provide a response of approximately 150 words (not to exceed 200 words) to each.
A good story starts with a good beginning. Get us hooked in the first 150 words. - Blessed Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, described education as “the art of helping young people to completeness.” How are you incomplete?
- Notre Dame students are encouraged to learn through discovery by interacting with the world around them. Describe your ideal intellectual field trip.
- Initiate an in-person conversation with someone whom you've never met but who you think might be interesting. What did you learn about that person or yourself?
Union College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/15/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/15/2015
- Early Decision II - 01/15/2015
- The Writing Supplement is optional.
Choose one:Share something about yourself that does not appear in your application. (Limit: 150 words)
What question do you think a selective college should ask and how would you answer it? (Limit: 150 words)
Given the opportunity to conduct research at Union, what project would you choose to explore? (Limit: 150 words)
Rhode Island School of Design application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Spring 2015
First Year
- Regular Decision - 11/01/2014
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/01/2014
- Regular Decision - 02/01/2015
- The questions for this college are not yet ready for completion. Thank you for your patience as the college and The Common Application finalize these questions.
Brown University application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/01/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated in our Member Section, earlier in this application? If you are "undecided" or not sure which Brown concentrations match your interests, consider describing more generally the academic topics or modes of thought that engage you currently. (150 word limit)
Tell us where you have lived - and for how long - since you were born; whether you've always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (100 word limit)
We all exist within communities or groups of various sizes, origins, and purposes; pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (150 word limit)
Why Brown? (200 word limit).
Pomona College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Please respond to one of the following two prompts:
Fall 2015
First Year
- Early Decision - 11/01/2014
- Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
- Early Decision II - 01/01/2015
Prompt 1: Pomona's Critical Inquiry course is required of all first-year students, and is designed to be highly interdisciplinary and engaging. Recent class titles include: 'Molecules of the Mind', 'The Economics of Sin', and 'Punk: Poets, Politics and Provocation'. Imagine you were hired to design and teach a Critical Inquiry course. Describe the title of the class, its contents, and why you chose it.
Prompt 2: What does freedom mean to you?
Hint: A .pdf file under 500 KB in size will be accepted.
If there is a broader context in which we should consider your performance and involvements or if there are any factors that may affect your adjustment to college life, please provide that information.
If you would like to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application, please provide that information.
Carnegie Mellon University's Pre-App!
Carnegie Mellon University is the only school I know of that requires a ‘Pre-App’ from all International Students. This form seems to inform all prospective applicants about the cost of attending the school. The cost for the 2013-14 academic year was $62,032 and normally increases by 3-5% each year. Carnegie Mellon only offers financial assistance to U.S. Citizens and permanent residents so if you are an international passport holder you must provide information about the sources of funding that will be available to you.
If CMU is on your list you must fill the Pre-App asap. Here’s the link https://www.as.cmu.edu/international/
It’s a simple form and you should have no trouble filling this in 2 minutes!
The deadline for submitting it is 1 November 2014.
Northwestern College application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Early Decision - 11/01/2014
Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
Northwestern Statement: What are the unique qualities of Northwestern - and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying - that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified? (300 word maximum)
New York University application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Early Decision - 11/01/2014
Regular Decision - 01/01/2015
Early Decision II - 01/01/2015
NYU is global, urban, inspired, smart, connected, and bold. What can NYU offer you, and what can you offer NYU? (200-400 words)
John Hopkins University application deadlines and supplementary essay prompts
Early Decision - 11/03/2014
Regular Decision - 01/05/2015
Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 on a spirit of exploration and discovery. As a result, students can pursue a multi-dimensional undergraduate experience both in and outside of the classroom. Given the opportunities at Hopkins, please discuss your current interests—academic or extracurricular pursuits, personal passions, summer experiences, etc.—and how you will build upon them here.