auburn supplemental essays 2023

Auburn University

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Want to see your chances of admission at Auburn University?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Auburn University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Common app personal essay.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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Auburn to open applications for summer, fall 2023 on Aug. 1

Article body.

After receiving another record number of applicants for this fall, Auburn University will open its application season for next year’s summer and fall semesters on Aug. 1.

Applications can be submitted at that time  online  or through the Common App system—a powerful, online college application platform that serves more than 3 million applicants, teachers, counselors and advisors throughout the nation and world.

The application season comes amid another year of record applicants for the upcoming fall semester. For this fall, Auburn received more than 50,000 freshman and transfer applications—a record increase of more than 67% compared to the previous two fall semesters—with more than 31,153 applying through the Common App.

“It is exciting to see how many students are demonstrating a strong interest in joining the Auburn Family,” said Joffery Gaymon, Auburn’s vice president for enrollment. “As we focus on efforts of greater access to underserved areas, we are working hard to build connections and further grow our applicant numbers.”

For summer and fall 2023 semesters, Auburn is continuing to extend some modifications to its existing admissions procedures in light of standardized testing sites remaining limited amid the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Students who were able to take a standardized test can use their scores for the admissions process as in years past. Applicants with at least a 3.6 grade-point average who were unable to test will be reviewed holistically through Auburn’s test-optional pathway.

Any valedictorian or salutatorian from an accredited Alabama high school with 50 or more graduates will also qualify for admission. Auburn selects its freshman class through an evaluation that includes a holistic review of the student’s academic performance. First-year students accepted for admission by   mid-January   receive automatic consideration. A scholarship application is not required.

To apply to Auburn for any of the 2023 semesters, go  here . Information about in-person and virtual campus tours—including academic department visits and tours of housing and Auburn’s Recreation and Wellness Center—can be found  here.

Related Media

A group of Auburn students walk by the famed War Eagle wall near Auburn’s campus.

Media interested in this story can contact Communications Director Preston Sparks at (334) 844-9999 or [email protected] .

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.

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Auburn Requirements for Admission

What are Auburn's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Auburn and build a strong application.

School location: Auburn, AL

This school is also known as: Auburn University

Admissions Rate: 43.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Auburn is 43.7% . For every 100 applicants, 44 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Auburn GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 4

The average GPA at Auburn is 4 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 4, Auburn requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Auburn hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Auburn will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Auburn SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1304

The average SAT score composite at Auburn is a 1304 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Auburn Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.

Auburn SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1240, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1370. In other words, a 1240 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1370 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Auburn has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Sitting."

This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider the SAT score from your single highest test date (the sum of math, reading, and writing).

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Auburn only considers your highest score on a single test date, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit your strongest score. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT score is currently below a 1304, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Auburn ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Auburn likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 27

The average ACT score at Auburn is 27. This score makes Auburn Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

Even though Auburn likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 27 and above that a 24 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 27 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Auburn, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 27.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Auburn considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1370 SAT or a 30 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 43.7% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 4. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1240 SAT or a 24 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Auburn here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $50
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office February 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language
• Social Studies 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes February 1 February 15
• Yes November 1 December 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 182 Auburn, AL 36849
• Phone: (334) 844-4000 x4000
• Fax: (334) 844-6436
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Auburn, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Auburn.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Auburn. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Auburn, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Auburn, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Auburn is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Questions

• Post author By Top Tier Admissions
• Post date July 21, 2023
• No Comments on 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Questions

In our June 29, 2023 post, “The End of Affirmative Action and the Future of College Admissions,” we discussed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the legality of race-conscious admissions and its likely effect on the upcoming admissions cycle. Already, we are seeing how colleges are reacting by using school-specific supplements to give students the opportunity to share specific details of their personal background, including their racial background.

Check out this new Sarah Lawrence College prompt as an example:

The University of Richmond has likewise added a prompt that provides a space for students to comment on their diverse experiences and backgrounds:

Personal Boot Camp

Three days of one-on-one work with a Senior Counselor from the Application Boot Camp® team.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Our sold-out Application Boot Camp® helps students finalize their application packages by early August. Reach out now to join the waitlist! For students who can’t make our ABC dates and need one-on-one guidance building their college list, deepening their academic niche and crafting their application and essays, book a Personal Boot Camp and work with a TTA Senior Counselor over an intensive, personalized three-day period. No other program brings the expertise of Application Boot Camp® directly to your doorstep.

Students who don’t require the immersive guidance of our Boot Camp programs benefit from working one-on-one with one of our Senior Counselors to craft unique, stand-out essays with our Essay Guidance Program . Or consider our Essay Guidance and Common App 911 bundle for a complete application package!

Essay Guidance

Get our expert guidance on your college essays.

THE VARIOUS APPLICATION PLATFORMS

• Coalition App  
• Universal College App  
• UC App (University of California system)
• UCAS (UK schools)

Note: Some schools, like Georgetown University and MIT , use their own application. Students interested in Georgetown must first complete and submit the  Georgetown Application (a short form), which initiates the alumni interview and grants you access to the official application platform. The University of California likewise uses their own application for all nine campuses.

2023-2024 SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTIONS

We are compiling the 2023-2024 supplemental essay questions for you on our College Application Essay Prompts page and we’ll continue to update all supplements as they are released. In the comments, feel free to note any schools you’d like to see included. This year, more than ever, the content and quality of your college essays MATTER.

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Our Analysis of the 2023-2024 Supplemental Essay Prompts

This year's batch of supplemental essay prompts was released on august 1st. here's what those prompts reveal about the changing priorities at colleges and universities..

Thanks to the perceived essay loophole Chief Justice Roberts’ Supreme Court decision language created—establishing that students can write about racial identity when tied to other experiences and characteristics—there has been much speculation that colleges would scramble to add diversity-related questions to their applications. Now that the Common App has reset for 2023-24, we can see colleges’ new supplemental questions. Did this bear out? So far, we’d say: yes. Yes it did. Here are a few overall trends and changes we’re noticing in the 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts.

An increase in DEIB-related essays

This comes as no surprise. It’s important to note that many colleges already had prompts that asked students to reflect on their identities, on their communities, or on how they would contribute to diverse campuses; schools like Duke, Michigan, and Syracuse have included questions like this on their supplements for years now. But other schools have made notable changes since June’s decision: University of Miami, for example, replaced their question about the ibis (which, admittedly, we are not terribly sad to see go); American University scrapped their “why AU?”; and UVA retooled the essay questions they had only just retooled last year (even though UVA’s Dean J admitted she really liked last year’s version).

Here are the new versions of those schools’ supplemental essay questions:

University of Miami

“Located within one of the most dynamic cities in the world, the University of Miami is a distinctive community with a variety of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, and backgrounds. The University of Miami is a values-based and purpose-driven postsecondary institution that embraces diversity and inclusivity in all its forms and strives to create a culture of belonging, where every person feels valued and has an opportunity to contribute. Please describe how your unique experiences, challenges overcome, or skills acquired would contribute to our distinctive University community.” (max 250 words)

American University

“At American University, Inclusive Excellence is a cornerstone of the academic experience for our students, and we deeply value the learning that is inspired by the diversity of backgrounds and life experiences that all our community members bring with them. Please share why you would like to join this community.” (max 150 words)

All Applicants (300 words or less):

“What about your background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA?”

(…and read more about UVA’s new legacy-based optional question here ).

More choice for students

Many colleges who have introduced new questions have included these questions as one of several choices. BU, for example, introduced a new question—“Reflect on a social or community issue that deeply resonates with you. Why is it important to you, and how have you been involved in addressing or raising awareness about it?”—but kept their classic “Why BU?” as an alternative option. Offering prompt choices—which schools like Tufts, Boston College, Villanova, Emory, and University of Richmond have done for quite some time—allows for students to write about their identities if they wish and on their own terms.

…Except at Harvard

As one of the defendants in the Supreme Court case, Harvard has lots of eyes on its post-SCOTUS decision making. Its response to the decision? Eliminating the previous optional (er, “optional”) essay and instituting five required essays. Very Harvard of them. And yes, one of them is directly about diversity:

“Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?”

Less emphasis on “why us?” essays

While this isn’t true everywhere, we saw a few surprising changes at some “why us?” stalwarts. Perhaps most notably, Tulane’s “why us?” essay—which, for many years, famously had an 800-word limit—is now a mere 250. And while last year Tulane had three different robust supplemental essay questions, now it’s just the one. Truly, our jaws are on the floor (yes, at this time of year, this counts as Very Exciting News. We essay editors don’t get out much in August). Equally shocking: no “why Indiana?” question for Indiana University in Bloomington. In fact, no supplement at all! That’s one way to lower the barrier to entry and boost application numbers (just ask Northeastern).

For tips on how to tackle these essay questions, check out our College Essay Hub . And if you’re looking for more in-depth, one-on-one support, reach out to our college admissions team!

Caroline Hertz

Stanford University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay and Short Questions Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Dec 1

University of Southern California 2024-25 Application Essay Questions Explained 

The Requirements: 2 or 3 essays (depending on major selection) of up to 250 words; 2 short-answer lists.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Oddball , Short Answer , Community

USC Essay Prompts Breakdown

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at usc. please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250 word limit).

This is USC’s take on the classic Why essay. In asking how you plan to pursue your interests, admissions is really trying to suss out your core reasons for choosing USC. While college will offer you a wealth of social and professional opportunities, its primary function is academic — and your primary role is as a student. So, what kind of student do you hope to be? Where do you hope your studies will take you? What resources and opportunities does USC offer that will meet your needs and guide you towards your goals?

To answer these questions, set aside an hour or two to pore over the USC website (there’s no hack, you’ve just got to put in the time). Beyond the basic departmental listings, look up information about news and research coming out of your department, the kinds of courses available, the opportunities that other undergrads have had studying in your area of choice. Even if you have a wide array of interests, consider explaining how two to three departments might complement each other or foster your interest in a larger idea or theme. Your ultimate goal is to show that your interest in USC (just like your intellectual curiosity) runs deep!

Describe yourself in three words (25 characters).

Your answers do not need to be so outlandish that admissions needs a thesaurus to look them up, but they should avoid the generalities that so often populate these questions: loyal, kind, smart… you get the idea. We’re sure you are all of these things — and they are lovely qualities to showcase in the stories you tell elsewhere in your other written responses — but these sorts of terms can ring hollow. Think about how different people in your life would describe you. Though this assignment is short, you may need to spend some time wordsmithing different combinations. When the prescribed format is a list, order matters just as much as content, so use every element of the assignment to your advantage!

The following prompts have a 100 character limit:

What is your favorite snack, best movie of all time:, if your life had a theme song, what would it be, dream trip:, what tv show will you binge watch next, which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate, favorite book:, if you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be.

Behold! USC’s attempt at being quirky! You’ve been limited to less than the length of a tweet for each answer, so you’d better make every word (and character) count! These prompts don’t have time for generalities or gentle introductions, so you’ll have to cut straight to the point. The more specific your words are, the more memorable your answers will be. Favorite snack? Don’t just say, “popcorn and Junior Mints.” How about, “A box of junior mints melting over hot popcorn as I watch a horror movie” (72 characters). If you can paint a funny picture or display a knack for wit, take this chance, but don’t force it. You also don’t exactly have to think of this as filling in the blanks, but more as filling in any blanks in your application. Anything that doesn’t feel like it merits a full essay can go here as a tweet, hot take, punchline, or elegantly-worded sentence.

USC Dornsife Applicants: Please provide an essay of no more than 250 words on the topic below. In your response, we encourage you to write about something that you haven’t already discussed elsewhere in your application.

For more information, please click here ., many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about – a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. if you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about (250 words).

We at CEA love this question because it’s a unique way of asking applicants: what do you care about and why? What’s important to you? What information do you wish other scholarly minds had access to? Start by making a list. Maybe you’d like to use your ten minutes to speak about media literacy and how we can and should consider what we see online through the lens of the powers that dictate how and when we receive information. Perhaps you’d want to spread the word about the dangers of climate change and the irreversible impact it will have on the planet if we don’t take action swiftly. What keeps you up at night? What kind of positive effect do you want to have on the world? These are the questions you should be asking yourself when brainstorming for this prompt. Bonus points if you can speak to how a USC Dornsife education will prepare you to address this issue head-on in the future! 

USC Viterbi Applicants:

The student body at the usc viterbi school of engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. describe how your contributions to the usc viterbi student body may be distinct from others. please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words).

USC Viterbi School of Engineering wants to accept students who will contribute to diversity on campus. When considering an aspect of your identity or background to expand upon, we recommend choosing one that has had the biggest impact on the way you experience and interact with the world. Ideally, the unique aspect you select should come with a couple anecdotes. Maybe you want to write about your experience as a person living with a disability and how this has shaped your interest in engineering, design, and accessibility. Perhaps you embody #BlackGirlMagic and will bring a fresh perspective to a field in which women of color are underrepresented. Regardless of the part of your identity you choose to address, be specific about how it impacts your worldview and how it will add a distinct perspective to USC Viterbi.

The Engineering Grand Challenges (for USC Viterbi Applicants):

The national academy of engineering (nae) and their 14 grand challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. learn more about the nae grand challenges at http://engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words).

Strong responses to this prompt will showcase self-reflection, care for the greater good, and ambition. Review the fourteen Grand Challenges and see which you connect with the most. Maybe you’re passionate about providing access to clean water, since you know firsthand what it’s like to not have that access in your hometown in Michigan. Perhaps you hope to engineer better medicines in honor of a loved one you lost to illness prematurely. Maybe you’ve always been fascinated with outer space and would jump at the opportunity to engineer new tools of scientific discovery. Make sure to relate your own life experiences and/or interests to the challenges the world is facing and emphasize how you’d like to be part of the solution.

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Frequently Asked Questions

USC asks applicants to write two (2) or three (3) essays, depending on their major selection, and two (2) short answer lists.

The limit is 250 words.

The USC supplemental essays are very important in the admissions process. Admissions officers at USC seek to “enroll a diverse group of students who represent a vast array of perspectives and passions, who will enrich each other’s education by challenging each other, inside the classroom and out.” These essays offer admissions the opportunity to get to know your values and better understand how you will contribute to the diversity of voices in their campus community. In short, they enable admissions to get to know the person behind the application (a.k.a. you!).

Absolutely not. Please do not reuse content from your Common App essay in your USC supplements. Although it’s possible for you to expand upon an idea, activity, or community that you mention in your Common App essay in your supplements, you should never recycle content or any phrasing word for word. Each written response is an opportunity for you to share more information about yourself and your candidacy, so you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not taking advantage. 

Applicants will want to avoid silly grammar mistakes , repeating the prompt in their response, and telling rather than showing (e.g., saying you are determined without giving an example of a time you displayed determination).

When you don’t have a lot of words (or characters) at your disposal, ideas reign supreme. Instead of dedicating time to crafting beautiful transitions, like you would for a 500-word essay, most of your time here should be allotted to brainstorming and finding instances where one word can substitute for two. It’s also wise to think about your application as a whole (imagine the same person reading all of your documents in one sitting!), and offer answers that provide new layers to your submission. 

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Auburn University Early Action for Fall 2024 Admission

Sorry to hear that, but I sincerely hope she gets accepted to Clemson. My daughter is a junior and she loves it! She is in the business school and already had an internship last summer in Atlanta. We are from Georgia and she comes home whenever she wants. She has made so many great friends. Best of luck with your daughter and the admissions process!

My daughter was a no as well - OOS, she knew it was a stretch so no surprise. Best of wishes to all the students in class of '24!

Son is having an issue getting into the portal. When he follows the instructions from Auburn’s original email on how to access, he gets a message that says there is no account linked to his email. Has anyone else had this issue?

Accepted OOS pre-nursing Any feedback on Auburn’s nursing program? How competitive is it to get into the actual nursing program after completing the pre-requisites? Thanks so much for any input.

OOS S24 admitted!! I wasn’t sure if he would be in the first round because his transcript was marked 9/16 in Auburn’s portal even though it was sent electronically on 9/13. I had him check late last night after he got home from the football game, and he had the email! I was confident he would be admitted eventually, but it’s nice to get it over with in the first round. Now we have some major soul searching to do since I honestly believe it’s between Auburn and Alabama at this point. Auburn is our first choice, but he will get more scholarship money from Alabama and is likely to have some friends going there.

Congrats to all those admitted. I hope everyone ultimately find the school that is the best match for them!

I would love to hear how their nursing program works. D26 wants nursing and loved Auburn when we visited for S24.

Their FAQ (bottom 2024 admission section) says you can submit a score after deferral, in case that’s something you want to consider. I also say this because between Auburn and Clemson, Clemson has become a much tougher admit. Last year’s results threads made me think they’ve become another UGA. It happened very quickly too. The kids admitted a few years ago from our high school did not have those stats. So if you’re relying on historical admission info, take a look at last year’s results on CC.

Sorry for the disappointing news from Auburn. We’re in for a stressful few months but best of luck to your daughter!

Yes she did test but only scored 1100 so pretty low. And although she test super well at school and even her DE classes the SAT was like panic attacks everytime she had to take it. So I didn’t want to keep putting her through that unless truly necessary.

Hopefully this will help someone next year !!! This is my first child going off to college, so learning still. I definitely researched a lot-and knew this was a long shot for my D24 as she was going TO. We visited from CT and this was probably my daughters #3 choice after a southern tour of schools.

My ultimate advice is that ONLY If this school is your kids #1 -retake tests to get into the range wanted and apply. Otherwise move on if they aren’t willing to put the work into it. And don’t be concerned about number of AP’s, DE classes being high — Just a few will do-You HAVE to make sure your GPA and test scores are high like the admitted above !!

What is unfortunate for auburn is that they are losing great students with a lot of promise due to the testing requirement. Rigor-8 honors, 3AP, 6 DE, one University early college class. Majoring in business, took 9 business classes.

Schools in Alabama are very stat focused. We have the opposite problem - we have a shy high scorer whose grades suffered during Covid. His ECs are minimal. Most schools want to see community involvement and a sense the student will add something to their campus. My kid likes to stay in his room. He likes math. We targeted Alabama, Auburn and UAH intentionally, for valuing his strengths. All the best to your daughter! She will do great elsewhere.

Someone on this forum said that scholarships come with the Auburn admission decision, albeit in a different letter. S24 wasn’t able to find any scholarship information. Does this mean none was awarded, or does it in fact come in November? Has anyone seen any scholarship awards?

We were looking too and have not seen anything

The scholarships will be awarded in November. I remember reading it somewhere.

OS daughter with 5.0 GPA & #1 class rank out of 531, (multiple AP & Honors classes) was DEFERRED. She didn’t submit test scores as they were “optional”. She already has acceptances from Baylor, Arkansas and Ole Miss and is waiting to hear from Clemson, Tennessee and TCU.

Based on the application requirements (or lack thereof), I don’t understand how Auburn is making holistic decisions based on candidates. There was no essay and no where to add a resume or letters of recommendation. Very frustrating, that they aren’t asking for this additional information to make a fully-informed decision. Now she can write a 150 word supplemental essay, to a question that is 43 words long (I counted).

The Ole Miss application was almost identical to Auburn, but their acceptance rate is extremely high. It seems like if Auburn is going to have a dramatically lower acceptance rate compared to recent history, they need to increase the information they consider during the process and if they are going to hold a lack of test scores against candidates, then just require the test scores.

We plan to reach out to the admissions counselor for our state, but it definitely seems like an uphill battle. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I don’t think it is holistic. They are pretty clear that in the past few years, it’s been about only ACT and GPA. The are not really test optional at all, and kids who apply TO are at a disadvantage. You would think they would look at stats like your daughter’s and know she would be successful at Auburn, but I think they see the scores as a “level” of the playing field.

Is it possible to submit test scores now? Either way, sounds like she has some amazing options!

Thanks for the reply - I agree, she has some great options and we haven’t given up on Auburn yet, but definitely makes it an uphill climb.

Auburn’s website says once a candidate goes test optional, they can’t go back, so it doesn’t appear submitted scores is allowed for admission purposes.

In late Oct, your student should get an email to his/her AU account with a timeslot. During that time, they can log in and apply for housing and you can pay the application fee then. That basically gets them in line for housing picks in the spring. Housing is SO much easier if you apply as EARLY as possible, so I suggest completing the application and paying as soon as their timeslot allows.

This website has a good timeline for housing… https://universityhousing.auburn.edu/apply/new/

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

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Extracurriculars.

How to Write the Auburn University Essays 2020-2021

Auburn University is located in central Alabama, roughly 2 hours southeast of Birmingham. About 25,000 undergraduate students are enrolled, plus 5,000 graduate students, which makes Auburn the second largest university in the state.

Auburn has a history of athletic excellence in the Southeastern Conference. Their football team last won the national championship in 2010, and their basketball team made the March Madness Final Four in 2019. The rivalry between Auburn and the University of Alabama is one of the oldest in college sports, and the two football teams meet annually in the Iron Bowl.

US News named Auburn the best university in Alabama in 2020, and the Princeton Review consistently ranks Auburn students among the happiest in the nation. The school had an acceptance rate of 75%, with the middle 50% of students possessing an SAT score between 1150 and 1310 or an ACT score between 25 and 30.

Auburn has four supplemental short answer prompts for prospective applicants. Read on to learn how to answer these so that your application stands out. Want to know your chances at Auburn? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what Auburn will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Auburn needs to know.

Auburn University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Prompt 1: Auburn University has a strong institutional mission of service and community. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with.

How long have you been involved with this community?

What was your role, did you seek assistance or additional information to expand your understanding of and ability to contribute to this community (100 words).

Prompt 2: Briefly describe a situation where you were involved in, or were witness to, an act of discrimination; you or someone else was not being treated fairly.

What did you do at the time and why?

Would you do anything differently if that same situation occurred today, has this event impacted or changed who you are now and if so, how (100 words).

Prompt 3: Describe a strong interest or passion of yours.

How long have you had this passion, and why does it interest you?

What have you learned about yourself through your involvement in this activity; how will this knowledge benefit you as a student at auburn, did you have a mentor, support person, or someone who encouraged your interest in this area, and if so, how, cite a specific goal you achieved and how you achieved it. (100 words).

Prompt 4: Describe an example of a situation where you were given a directive or decision that you disagreed with.

What was your role in this situation; were you in a leadership role, a position where others looked up to you, or a contributing member of this group?

How did you communicate with others about this decision, what was the outcome would you do anything differently (100 words), all applicants, prompt 1, auburn university has a strong institutional mission of service and community. briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with..

While college applications are largely focused on you, this prompt asks you to expand your focus and discuss the positive influence you have had on the world around you.

This kind of “Community Service” supplement is relatively common, so you may have already responded to a similar prompt. Although you can certainly use that response for inspiration, we discourage you from simply editing it to meet Auburn’s word count. If you cut half of a 200 word response, your essay may feel incomplete, which will be distracting for your reader.

Regardless of whether or not this is you are familiar with this kind of prompt, however, remember that there are two things you want to keep in mind:

• The impact your actions have had on your community.
• What this experience has taught you about yourself.

You want to be sure that whatever community you write about will allow you to showcase both of these things, even with such a restrictive word count. As you think about the various communities you are part of, there are a few questions that can help you figure out which one you should focus on:

• How long have you been a part of this community? Generally speaking, a community that has been important to you for a long time will be a stronger choice than one you just joined, as you will have more experience to draw on.
• What have you accomplished as part of this community? These don’t necessarily have to be tangible accomplishments (“We raised X dollars at our bake sale”); they can also be relationships you have built.
• What have you learned about yourself by being part of this community? Remember that this essay must still teach your reader something about you, and the best way to do that is by showing how your membership in this community has shaped who you are.

Once you have selected the community you want to write about, you want to think about how to best construct your essay. With supplementary essays in general, we recommend writing about specific experiences, but because this essay is so short, you may not have the space to do so.

You should still make it clear, however, that you have had meaningful experiences as part of this community, even if you don’t go into detail about them. Otherwise, your essay runs the risk of just feeling like a list of what happened, without personal connection.

Here are two example essays about your work with a beach cleanup organization.

Weak: I’ve spent six years working with Washington CoastSavers. At first, I didn’t really like it, but then my friends started telling me that it’s nice to be able to hang out by the water again without being surrounded by trash. This made me realize that maybe my actions can make a difference after all. Although cleaning up beaches isn’t always the most fun thing to do, it’s definitely rewarding in the end.

Strong: For the last six years, I have spent my Saturday mornings dragging half-submerged tires out of freezing water, or squinting at the sand, trying to find microplastics. My work with Washington CoastSavers has given me numb fingers and covered my car in sand, but it has also allowed me to watch seals return to a beach that was once piled high with trash. This sight made the memory of my small discomforts disappear, to be replaced by a sense of pride that it was my actions that had made this possible.

The first essay is unspecific, so it’s hard for your reader to visualize what this work looked like, and the takeaways are generic and impersonal. The second essay, on the other hand, uses strong, descriptive language, and communicates a personal lesson that you have learned: the satisfaction of being involved with long-term projects.

All Applicants, Prompt 2

Briefly describe a situation where you were involved in, or were witness to, an act of discrimination; you or someone else was not being treated fairly..

This prompt is likely quite different from others you have encountered, so you want to make sure you give yourself enough time to brainstorm what you want to say.

Initially, you may be having a hard time thinking of a moment to write about, as discrimination often refers to outward bigotry, which you may not have been subject to. The prompt gives a different definition, however: a moment of unfairness. This could be a coach benching players who challenged his decisions, or a teacher making fun of a student’s question. You can, of course, also write about a more serious act of a discrimination, if you are comfortable doing so.

Once you select a moment to write about, you want to think about what you learned from it. For example, say you are a woman interested in sports, and you asked your school’s football coach if you could work on his staff. In response, he laughed and said there was no way you could help, because girls don’t know anything about football.

At the time, perhaps you were too shocked to do anything, so you just left his office. As you reflect, however, you might wish that you had put together a portfolio of articles from the football blog you run, so that he couldn’t ignore your qualifications. You might conclude by saying this event made you realize that sometimes you have to go above and beyond to prove yourself, and although this isn’t fair, it’s a burden you’re willing to accept to get to where you want to go.

This example not only shows your ability to self-reflect, but also demonstrates personal growth in response to a moment of difficulty, as you are now more confident and determined than you were before.

If you choose to write about discrimination faced by someone else, make sure that you still illustrate how you learned from this experience, as you want your essay to teach your reader something about you, not the other person.

For example, say you choose to write about a teammate dealing with inappropriate jokes about his sexuality. If you write about how he responded by working with the coach to put together workshops, so the team could learn why their comments were disrespectful, that tells your reader a lot more about him than about you.

Instead, you might write about how, even though you weren’t one of the ones making the comments, you never defended your teammate either, and the workshops still taught you about complicity and how to be a true ally. Now, even though your teammate has graduated, you always speak up when someone on the team says something inappropriate, because you understand how important it is to call out even seemingly small comments.

Although being vulnerable in college essays is hard, it’s okay to admit a mistake in your response, so long as, like in the above example, you show what you have learned from that mistake. Everyone has moments where they wish they had acted differently, and owning your past mistake and illustrating your growth shows your reader that you have the maturity to think critically about yourself, as difficult as it is.

All Applicants, Prompt 3

Describe a strong interest or passion of yours..

Like the first prompt, this prompt may remind you of another common supplement: the “Extracurricular” essay. Also like the first prompt, the restrictive word count presents a challenge.

If you have already responded to a similar Extracurricular Activity prompt , you may know which extracurricular you want to write about, but if you haven’t, here are a few things to keep in mind as you brainstorm.

• Focus on meaning, not achievement. Remember that Auburn will also receive your Common App Activities List, where you can list your various accolades. For this essay, an activity that has personal meaning to you and/or has shaped some aspect of your personality is better than one that looks impressive.
• Tangible achievements. All of us have a variety of interests, but some are more casual than others, and it will be hard to write a strong essay about something that hasn’t had much of an impact on your life. If you just like to bake, that won’t tell your reader anything about you. If, on the other hand, your interest in baking has led you to start a club at your school where you share different recipes and host bake sales, that can make for a strong essay.
• Adding to your application. This goes beyond picking something you haven’t already written an essay about. If you have an unusual interest that wouldn’t otherwise show up on your application, this prompt is a great place to share it. For example, you could write about how your love for mystery novels led you to start hosting monthly murder mystery parties with your friends. This kind of topic will help your application stand out, as it’s less likely someone else is writing about the same thing.
• Use the prompt’s leading questions. You don’t have to answer all of the questions Auburn gives you, as you simply don’t have the space to do that well. But as you brainstorm, these kinds of questions–about mentors, accomplishments, and personal growth–can help you determine whether or not a particular activity was genuinely meaningful to you.

Once you select your topic, think about what this particular interest shows about you. Your response should illustrate one or two qualities that you have developed as a result of your interest in this thing. It’s incredibly important that this personal connection comes across, as the purpose of this essay is to teach Auburn something about you, not the thing you’re interested in.

Here are some examples to illustrate how to write a strong response:

Weak: I’ve always loved animals, so when I was fourteen I started working at my local animal shelter. Even though cleaning out the cages could be pretty gross, I absolutely loved the work, because I got to spend so much time with cats and dogs. The adoptions were my favorite moments, because I could tell how happy the animal was to have found a family. This made me realize how lucky I am to have grown up in a loving home, and how important it is to empathize with people who weren’t as lucky.

Strong: Ever since my dad gave me a kitten for my third birthday, I’ve loved animals, so I was ecstatic when I began working at the local shelter. But I didn’t anticipate how my heart would break for the lonely animals, still stuck in their cages, watching their friends get adopted. So, to brighten their days, I started baking them treats. Now, the sight of dogs and cats waiting eagerly at the front of their cages to see what I have for them always reminds me the difference even a little bit of empathy can make.

The weakness of the first essay is that the writer’s personal connection to her work at the animal shelter doesn’t come across. She spends most of the essay describing the work itself, rather than the impact it made on her. At the end, she tries to show what she has learned, but because the rest of the essay has been more about the work than her, the takeaway comes across as generic and impersonal.

The second essay, on the other hand, is focused on the writer and her emotional connection to the work from the very first sentence. Although the takeaway is the same, it comes across as far more genuine, because the reader can ground it in the writer’s vibrant descriptions of her experiences. The first essay just tells the reader that the writer is empathetic, while the second shows why working at the animal shelter has made her so.

Because this essay is so short, your descriptions of the interest and your personal connection to it will both be pretty brief. That’s okay—the admissions committee is well aware you only have so many words. The most important thing to remember is that the essay should be about you, not the thing you’re interested in. If you’re tight on space, focus on telling your reader something about yourself, rather than going into detail about the interest itself.

All Applicants, Prompt 4

Describe an example of a situation where you were given a directive or decision that you disagreed with..

Like the second prompt, this is a more unconventional supplement, so you likely won’t be able to draw on other essays you have already written.

As you begin brainstorming, think about times you have been part of a team: this could be sports, a group project in class, or an experience at work. Or, if you are part of more unusual teams, those can often make for even stronger responses, as they are more unique to you: perhaps you are in a band, or often go on backpacking trips with your friends.

Hopefully, as you think about the various groups you have been part of, you will also be reminded of contentious moments in these groups. Perhaps your band got into a huge argument about which songs to perform at one of your shows, or your coach called a play at the end of the game that you didn’t think would work.

Whatever situation you choose, your response should focus on two things: how you responded in the moment, and what you learned from this experience.

Let’s take the band example. Because this essay is so short, you should describe the disagreement itself relatively quickly: the focus of the essay should be on the resolution, not the argument itself. Here’s a sample response:

“The first time my band opened a concert, we couldn’t decide what to play. Our guitarist wanted upbeat songs so he could improvise, while I thought my voice was better suited to slow songs. Unfortunately, we ended up sounding totally incohesive, as we were constantly ping-ponging between fast and slow. In hindsight, I wish I had been able to look at the show more objectively, and realize the importance of unity in our set. This perspective may have helped us reach a better compromise, like alternating between faster and slower sets depending on the show.”

From this essay, your reader can see that you grew as a result of this experience: you have learned how to be a better bandmate by considering factors other than your own personal interests, which is a skill applicable to many other situations as well.

It’s incredibly important that your essay illustrates this kind of personal growth. If you find yourself over the word count, we advise shortening your description of the disagreement as much as possible, rather than cutting from what you have learned, as the admissions committee cares much more about you than the experience.

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average supplemental essay in 2023

Dear Honorable and Esteemed Admissions Officers of Highly Prestigious Institution,

I sincerely hope that this letter finds you well. I am writing this email today as a supplement to my regular application, in order to further advocate for my candidacy as a student at Highly Prestigious Institution. I believe wholeheartedly that I would be a fitting student a perfect match an absolutely invaluable asset to your campus, as I resonate deeply with the values of Highly Prestigious Institution. Furthermore, I would like to assure you that for its academic rigor, stellar interdisciplinary nature, stunning location, vibrant student body, fascinating coursework, and endowment, Highly Prestigious Institution is my number one college choice for the upcoming academic year.

My reasons for believing that I am a deserving applicant to Highly Prestigious Institution are manifold. To begin, I have been an exceptionally-achieving student throughout high school for a decade all of my life. My fondest childhood memories are those of sitting around the dinner table, flanked by my mother and father, eating applesauce with one hand while proving the Pythagorean theorem with the other. In middle school, I was disheartened by the lack of suitable math classes for our developing blossoming minds, so I taught my own during lunch periods. My humble bench drew a vast number of students, whom I instructed in the history of differential equations; I still remember the looks in their eyes of pure and unfiltered shock awe! Now, in high school, I continue to pioneer mathematics and education. As I deliver weekly lectures on the nuclear applications of linear algebra to local elementary schoolers, they have grown so comfortable with my teaching that they feel safe enough to fall asleep on their desks. I aspire to further my love for learning among like-minded peers at Highly Prestigious Institution.

Furthermore, I am involved in a number of extracurricular activities that demonstrate my driven personality and determination, which I look forward to am incredibly enthused to bring to Highly Prestigious Institution. I am the founder and captain of the robotics team and have led courageously piloted our group to unprecedented levels of success; we recently placed first at nationals in the extremely-competitive division “Fastest Robot to Peel a Tomato using a Philips Screwdriver.” In addition, I developed an app used by two dozen regional hospitals to streamline and refurbish the patient waiting experience; I received vast amounts of praise for my careful tasteful inspired choice to equip hold music with Beethoven symphonies instead of far-overdone Mozart. I have founded three nonprofit organizations, served as first chair bassoonist in state orchestra since I was eleven years old, published a critically-reviewed book, scaled Mount Everest four and a half times, and won the incredibly-coveted award “Golden Needles: Most Promising Competitive Crocheter Nationwide.” I am a natural leader a born shepherd for passion, conviction, and innovation: all values I look forward to advancing at Highly Prestigious Institution.

Besides, I’ve spent my whole life sacrificing time and friendships and joy just trying to be good enough. Besides, I have no idea what my future will look like if I don’t land this acceptance, if I pin all my hopes and dreams up and then I disappoint everyone and then I fail.

Besides, I can’t have done it all for nothing.

In conclusion, please rest assured that I am the most deserving candidate for Highly Prestigious Institution who shall cross your desks this application season. Thank you for your attention. I look forward to seeing you on campus this autumn.

Kind and humble regards, A High School Senior

[this was an original satirical piece I wrote and submitted in an evening to my high school's literary magazine! attempting to package up every college essay I seem to see online in 600 words LOLL I wish all ED/EA/REA applicants lots of luck this Friday 🤞🤞]

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visit Rostov on don on world cup. Which location is best for stay and easy to go Rostov stadium?

thank you & best regards

4 replies to this topic

The one you can afford. Choose any accomodation that is available and suits your budget - not reaaly much left, hurry up!

The closer to the Voroshilovskiy Bridge, the better.

@jojochee2205,

Please also check the rules of registration for foreign visitors:

http://www.russianembassy.org/sites/default/files/documents/mig_leg.pdf

Thank you for your all information provided.

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Drone Strikes Rock Russian City That Is Home to Key Military Base

Ukraine never acknowledges strikes on Russian soil, but the incursions are happening with increasing frequency.

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By Marc Santora

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Explosions rocked the area around one of Russia’s largest military hubs before dawn on Thursday, and local officials later said that air defenses had shot down two drones.

At least one blast was heard in the city of Rostov-on-Don, which is home to Russia’s southern military headquarters and is a command center for its forces in Ukraine. In June, the city drew world attention when mercenary fighters from the Wagner military company faced off with regular Russian soldiers there in a short-lived uprising.

On Thursday, Russian news outlets posted a series of videos showing an explosion in the center of Rostov-on-Don. The Russian Defense Ministry said that drone attacks in other regions were thwarted.

Vasily Golubev, the regional governor of Rostov, said debris that fell after air defenses downed the drones had damaged cars and buildings, injuring one person. One drone fell in the city center, he said in a post on the Telegram messaging app, listing an address that is across the street from the military headquarters. Another was shot down outside the city in the western part of the region, he said.

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has made several official visits to Rostov-on-Don since the start of the war. His most recent visit was on Aug. 19, when he received reports from Valery V. Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff of Russia’s armed forces, and various commanders and senior officers, according to the Kremlin .

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