EP5: Supplemental Essays Explained: How to Write “Why Us,” “Why Major” & Short Answers

Supplemental essays. The 250-word ones buried in the application portal that students look at on a Friday night, decide they have all weekend to write, and then somehow end up finishing in a Sunday night panic spiral. Sound familiar?In this episode of Drop In, Lisa and Josh break down every major type of supplemental essay: what colleges are actually asking, what admissions officers are actually looking for, and how to write answers that sound like a specific human being instead of a Google search with a word count.They cover the "Why Us" essay (it's a love letter, not a thank-you note), the extracurricular essay (your activity list already told them what you did, and now tell them why it matters), the perspectives essay (it's not asking you to win, it's asking you to grow), and the "Why This Major" essay (show evidence your interest exists outside the classroom). Plus...the sneakiest challenge in the entire supplemental process: those super short 50-word prompts that look easy until you're staring at a blank box for 45 minutes.Real examples from Texas A&M, Georgetown, the University of Florida, Wake Forest, and UT Austin. And Lisa shares a story from her recruiting days that every student needs to hear before they hit submit.New episodes every week. Follow Drop In on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.📲 Work with Lisa & Josh: decisiondrop.comChapters:00:00 Welcome to Drop In!03:23 Episode 5 Intro: Supplemental Essays Are Not What You Think05:33 The "Why Us" Essay: How to Write One That Actually Works10:06 Texas A&M and Georgetown: Real "Why Us" Essay Examples11:36 The Extracurricular Essay: Show Don't Tell (University of Florida)13:21 The Perspectives Essay: How to Write About Different Viewpoints15:25 The "Why This Major" Essay: Show Your Curiosity Outside the Classroom16:52 UT Austin and the "Why This Major" Essay: Specific Examples19:41 Super Short Supplements: The Sneakiest Challenge in College Applications20:20 Wake Forest and the 50-Word Essay: How to Write Less and Say More22:51 Hot Take: The "Why Us" Essay Is a Love Letter, Not a Thank-You Note25:49 Drop the Mic: Every Supplemental Essay Is a Conversation27:05 Read the Mission Statement Before You Write a Single Word27:42 Next Week: Standardized Testing, Test-Optional, and What It All Really Means