Vassar College is one of the nation’s top liberal arts schools. Founded in 1861 with a total enrollment of about 2,400 undergrads, Vassar is located in Poughkeepsie, New York (i.e.: upstate).  The vast majority of classes have fewer than 20 students. The acceptance rate is 24%. This year’s supplement is just two questions. Well, really 1.5. Below, we’ll tell you how to tackle them.

Why are you applying to Vassar? (Limit 300 words)

Ah yes, the “why are you applying here?” question. This seems like a very simple question (and it is!) but there are some classic pitfalls to avoid here. The first thing to know is this is not an opportunity to write out a laundry list of reasons (the fall foliage, the naked run…) you think you’ll love this school. Instead, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that you’re an expert in a particular academic area. Schools are looking to build classes of kids who excel in different academic niches. We encourage our students to refine their (highly specific) academic niche throughout high school and build their extracurriculars around it.

This essay is a chance to demonstrate the Venn Diagram between your area of expertise and this school. Said another way, you need to show that the two of you are a perfect academic match. Start off by telling a story about how you got into your area of expertise. Maybe you read Pride and Prejudice at a sleepover and stayed up all night glued to the book while your friends played Mash, thus sparking your lifetime pursuit of English Lit. Next, identify the major that translates to your academic niche at Vassar. Do your research here. Talk about specific (upper-level) classes you’re excited by and the professors whose classes you can’t wait to take. Talk about the research those professors are doing. Then, talk about the extracurriculars and clubs you’d like to join that are relevant. You should also connect the dots and talk a little about your experience in high school. Don’t just regurgitate what’s on your resume. Colleges will already have that. Talk about specific projects you worked on or goals you accomplished within those activities that you’d like to expand upon while in college. Finally, end with a conclusion.  

If you wish to provide details of circumstances not reflected in the application, please upload a file here. Similarly, if you wish to upload your resume, include it here.

While this section says the resume is optional, we disagree. Create a resume (keep it to one-page!) and format it nicely, writing short descriptions of your activities that aren’t necessarily present in your essay. As for the “circumstances not reflected in the application” part…if you have a circumstance to report that impacted your performance in high school, including but not limited to illness or loss, you should probably include it in the “additional information section” of the Common App.

In short, the supplement is an important part of the application process in which you really get to communicate directly with the admissions counselor. It’s something we put a lot of emphasis on because it’s one of the few ways you can ensure you stand out beyond just a GPA or a test score that’s the same as dozens of your competitors.

Need help building a clear and impressive resume? Call us. We’re great at helping students design standout resumes.