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How to Complete the 2022-2023 Wellesley Supplemental Essays
Wellesley College is a private women’s liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Utilizing the Wellesley supplemental essays gives students an opportunity to tell their story. Making this story as engaging, meaningful, and concise as possible should be your goal.
The supplemental essay prompt is long, so it may seem daunting when first read. Not to worry, because in this article, we are going to break down what they are asking so that all you have to think about is speaking your truth.
Before you start writing
Before you start formulating your essay, you will want to take a look at The Wellesley 100. The Wellesley 100 is essentially an extensive list of all of the best things about Wellesley College. Scroll through the list and jot down some of your favorite things that you read. This knowledge will make a world of difference when you start writing your essay, allowing you to dig right in to crafting your essay (and not have to keep referring back to those 100 reasons!).
Also see: How to write an essay about yourself
The Wellesley supplemental essay prompt
When choosing a college community, you are choosing a place where you believe that you can live, learn, and flourish. Generations of inspiring women have thrived in the Wellesley community, and we want to know what aspects of this community inspire you to consider Wellesley. We know that there are more than 100 reasons to choose Wellesley, but the “Wellesley 100” is a good place to start. Visit The Wellesley 100 and let us know, in two well-developed paragraphs, which two items most attract, inspire, or energize you and why. (Not-so-secret tip: The “why” matters to us.) (250-400 words)
To start off, 250-400 is quite a range. Therefore, you can write as much or as little as you would like within those limits. Having a range gives you some creative freedom while writing. Wellesley asks for two paragraphs, which is ideal for sharing why you are choosing Wellesley College to be your home for the next four years.
If you don’t already know why you chose to apply at Wellesley, take a look at The Wellesley 100 list and pick some of your favorite reasons. Here are just a few of those:
- Funded internships
- The campus
- Notable alumni
- The Honor Code
After you choose your “what,” you can dive deeper into your “why.” Why does this certain thing make you feel passionate about Wellesley College, and how is it going to help you succeed in your personal growth and career?
Framing yourself on campus
The key to this prompt is combining a testament to your own potential with a demonstration of your knowledge of the Wellesley experience. Try to frame your appreciation of the Wellesley 100 through the lens of what qualities you can bring to the table.
Instead of just discussing how much you are excited about a program or feature of campus, try mentioning how you’d make use of it and how it’d fit into your larger life and career goals. This will show that you have given some real foresight to the idea of joining the Wellesley community.
Questions to ask yourself
- What is your major?
- Are there any notable alumnae that you admire?
- What about the campus inspires you?
- Is there something in Wellesley’s curriculum that sticks out to you more than other schools?
Remember to avoid writing about other universities in your essay, but particularly speaking negatively about other universities.
Final thoughts for students
Overall, if you read over The Wellesley 100, and your essay is written in a truthful and concise way, you will be all set. This is a relatively straight forward essay prompt, so you really want to focus on what is going to make you stand out. Try to choose something from the list specific to you as a person or to your major. This will make it more personal and authentic.
Additional resources
After you finish up your Wellesley supplemental essays, it’s time to take the next step in your admissions process! To help guide you through each of these steps, we’ve put together guides on how many colleges to apply to, how to choose a college, and what looks good on college applications. To help fund your education, check out our list of scholarships for high school seniors, as well as our guide on how to complete the FAFSA.
Good luck in your college journey, and be sure to check back as any other questions arise!
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