Selective Universities Drop Supplemental Essays for 2026-27 Cycle
UNC Chapel Hill, Tulane, WashU, and other selective institutions eliminate supplemental writing requirements in a significant admissions policy shift.
July 15, 2026 · 2 min read
July 2026 — Several selective universities have announced they will remove supplemental essays from their application materials for the 2026–27 admissions cycle, marking a significant policy shift that reduces writing requirements for applicants targeting competitive institutions.
According to Inside Higher Ed, this trend includes multiple selective universities that have determined supplemental essays "weren't particularly helpful in making admissions decisions" [6]. The move represents a departure from the traditional emphasis on institution-specific writing samples that have long been a staple of selective college applications.
Among the institutions making this change is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which has officially announced the removal of its two short-answer supplemental questions for the upcoming application cycle [10]. UNC's admissions website states: "We are removing the two short answer questions from our application supplement" [10].
Other selective institutions following this trend include Tulane University, which is dropping its "Why Tulane?" essay requirement, and Washington University in St. Louis, which is eliminating one of its optional essays [9]. Texas Christian University has reportedly dropped all short-answer questions from its application [9].
The policy shift comes as admissions offices reconsider the utility of supplemental essays in their holistic review processes. While the exact reasons vary by institution, some administrators have indicated that these essays weren't providing sufficient additional insight beyond what's already available in the Common Application and other materials.
This development could significantly impact application strategies for students targeting selective institutions, potentially reducing the time commitment for applying to multiple competitive schools while also removing an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate specific institutional fit.
What remains unclear: The full list of selective institutions eliminating supplemental essays, whether this trend will extend to Ivy League and other highly-selective universities, and how admissions committees will adjust their evaluation criteria to compensate for the reduced writing samples.
This analysis may include estimates and projections compiled from public and primary sources. Figures can change — verify deadlines and policies with each school before acting on them.