Is Cornell University on your college list? Because it’s an Ivy League institution with a low admissions rate, your application needs to be extremely competitive. Your responses to Cornell’s supplemental essay prompts can help set you apart if they are compelling, thoughtful, and authentic. Keep reading for some insights into Cornell’s 2025-26 supplemental essays.
With a location in the heart of New York City and an array of top-ranked academic programs, it’s easy to understand why so many students place New York University at the top of their college best-fit lists. The institution has plenty of research and learning opportunities to offer, as well as all of the advantages associated with going to school in a major metropolitan city.
As an Ivy League school based in New York City, Columbia University is a top choice for many students. The school offers a variety of well-regarded programs and is known for its signature Core Curriculum, part of the Columbia student experience for over a century.
Most STEM students already know that MIT is one of the most reputable names, not to mention an exceptionally academically rigorous college. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty about their admissions process, including the MIT interview. There’s a lot you can do to stand out in this part of the process.
Princeton tops many students’ lists for dream schools to attend. Like most other Ivy League colleges, the university is known for its rigor and increasingly competitive applicant pool. As competition for a seat at the top-rated college intensifies, most future applicants are asking themselves the same question: What does it really take to earn admission to Princeton University?
Brown is at the top of plenty of students’ best-fit lists, so it’s no surprise that most prospective applicants want to do everything they can to stand out in their applications. While grades and course rigor carry the most weight in admissions decisions, students also need to write compelling essays that demonstrate their interest in attending the college.
As a leading research university with acceptance rates that mirror the Ivy League, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology attracts students from around the world. MIT has plenty of top-tier programs, in addition to a dual degree program with neighboring Wellesley College.
The University of Southern California — or USC, as it’s best known — is a top research university and one of the most selective schools in the country. Located in sunny Los Angeles, California, it’s been a pioneer in academic and research initiatives since its beginnings in 1880.
Boston University, or BU as it’s known, is a top private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university has 10 undergraduate schools and colleges to choose from, as well as dual degree and double major options.
Boston University has become increasingly competitive throughout the last few years, receiving record-breaking numbers of applications from across the country and around the world. Read on to learn the best practices applicants should use to increase their chances of admission to Boston University.
UCLA is part of the University of California system, which is comprised of 10 campuses throughout the state. Students applying to UCLA must use the UC application — the University of California system does not use the Common App or Coalition Application. The application process includes several personal statement prompts, or what UC refers to as personal insight questions. Keep reading to learn more about these prompts and tips for responding to them.
