Even in the Common App era, completing college applications can feel like an interminably long and complex process with far too many permutations from one school to another. But some schools are announcing what appear to be efforts to eliminate application bloat. Are they really, though? Amy and Mike invited independent education consultant Beth Kraemer to answer the question, “Are supplemental essays dead?”
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
- Why are some colleges eliminating supplemental essays, and do their stated reasons tell the whole story?
- Are supplemental essays simply another application hurdle?
- What additional information is elicited through supplemental essays?
- Which schools have eliminated supplemental essays heading into the 2026-27 admissions cycle?
- How should applicants determine whether they should write optional essays?
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MEET OUR GUEST
Beth Kraemer is the co-founder of In College Consulting and has spent more than a decade helping families navigate the increasingly complex world of college admissions. With a background in journalism, education, and law, she brings both storytelling expertise and strategic thinking to her work with students.
Beth earned a journalism degree from Northwestern University, a master’s degree from The Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. She first became involved in admissions as a Northwestern alumni interviewer. She is a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and regularly visits campuses to stay current on admissions trends.
In addition to her consulting work, Beth serves on the board of the Pinpoint Scholars Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and leadership in STEM education.
Beth previously appeared on this podcast in episode 715 for an IEC PROFILE.
Beth can be reached at incollegeconsulting.com.
LINKS
The Admissions Funnel Is Clogged. Here’s How to Fix It.
Some Colleges Drop Supplemental Essays for 2026–27
Fall 2027 Essay Question – UGA Admissions
Georgia Tech Simplifies First-Year Admission Application by Removing Supplemental Essay
UVA removes supplemental essay prompt from 2025-2026 undergraduate application
RELATED EPISODES
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT TRENDS FOR 2026 AND 2027
WHY THIS COLLEGE, WHY THIS MAJOR?
WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN’T OPTIONAL
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS
Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. Get in touch with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, consulting, or anything podcast related through our contact page. We’d love to hear from you!