Selective Universities Drop Supplemental Essays for 2026–27 Admissions Cycle

July 28, 2026 — In a significant shift for the upcoming admissions cycle, several selective universities have announced they will eliminate supplemental essay requirements for the 2026–27 application season, according to a July 8 report from Inside Higher Ed. The move represents a notable departure from long-standing admissions practices at competitive institutions.

Which Schools Are Dropping Essays

Among the institutions that have dropped supplemental essay requirements are Tulane University, which is pausing its "Why Tulane?" essay; the University of Georgia; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Miami; and University of Virginia, according to the Inside Higher Ed report and subsequent social media announcements from admissions professionals. Additional sources indicate the University of Washington has also eliminated supplemental essays for the coming cycle.

Rationale Behind the Shift

Administrators at these institutions reportedly concluded that supplemental essays "weren't particularly helpful in making admissions decisions," according to Inside Higher Ed. The move appears to reflect growing concerns about the limited utility of these additional writing samples in distinguishing among qualified applicants, especially as application volumes continue to rise at selective institutions.

Implications for Applicants

For students targeting these selective universities, the change means they will now only need to submit their Common Application personal statement rather than institution-specific supplemental essays. This reduction in application requirements could streamline the process for applicants applying to multiple selective schools while potentially shifting more weight onto other application components like transcripts, test scores (where required), letters of recommendation, and extracurricular profiles.

The development comes amid ongoing debates about the role of written materials in holistic admissions review and follows broader trends toward application simplification at some institutions.